Deputy CM Damodar Raja Narasimha tells CS to probe Housing Board violations

Hyderabad: Deputy Chief Minister Damodar Raja Narasimha has asked chief secretary P.K. Mohanty to inquire into allegations of irregularities in the allotment of land by the AP Housing Board to various developers.

In a letter to the chief secretary, Raja Narasimha also wanted him not to proceed with the proposal to extend the deadline given to the developers to complete their projects.

Referring to a Vigilance and Enforcement report, which this newspaper had carried, the deputy CM said that there were serious violations by developers, who illegally grabbed lands in the name of consortiums and joint ventures, submitting false documents.

He said that it was brought to his notice that the firms were still holding on to the land without developing it and that the government is contemplating an extension of the deadline. “Any approvals or granting extension of time in favour of developer firms at this stage would be a huge loss to the state exchequer,” the deputy CM said.

In his letter, he noted that investigating agencies had been looking into complaints of violations against firms like Universal Realtors, DLF commercial development, Ramky Projects, Madhucon Projects, Manjeera Constructions, Serene Estates and IJM (India Infrastructure).

The deputy CM was also unhappy over the delay in sending factual reports on issues raised by him with the chief secretary. He referred to his previous letter in which he sought a report on attempts by the state government to allow cost escalation to contractors of various irrigation projects.