Hyderabad: The Telangana state government has stripped ministers and local MLAs of their powers to select beneficiaries for the 2BHK housing scheme.
The decision comes after the Hyderabad High Court recently found fault with the decision of the TS government to entrust the responsibility of selecting beneficiaries to district ministers and the MLA of the respective constituency in 50:50 ratio.
A district-level committee, comprising ministers and MLAs of districts concerned, with the district collector as the convener, would now be confined only to identify the locations and number of houses to be built. The power of selecting beneficiaries has been given to collectors and MROs by way of conducting gram/ ward sabhas in villages and urban areas.
The government had earlier issued an order (GO Ms No. 10) on October 15, according powers to district ministers and MLAs for allotment of houses in 50:50 ratio.
This evoked sharp criticism from various quarters who argued that genuine beneficiaries would not get houses and only followers of ministers and MLAs would benefit from the scheme, on which the government is spending up to Rs 9 lakh to build each house.
Some approached High Court on the issue, which expressed anger and even said it would be forced to stay the controversial GO, it the decision was not reviewed. With this, the TS government revised its order through GO Ms No. 12 on Thursday, scrapping the powers to ministers and MLAs. Even the selection procedure has been changed to check irregularities in allotment of houses.
“Applications will be called from people for 2BHK houses. Gram/ ward sabhas will be held in gram panchayats and urban local bodies for preliminary scrutiny of applications on the spot,” said A. Indrakaran Reddy, housing minister.
Mr Reddy said that the short-listed applications would be sent to MROs, who, after thorough verification, will submit the list of eligible to the district collector.
“Since the number of houses would be limited, draw of lots will be conducted by conducting gram/ ward sabhas and allotments will be made accordingly,” the minister said.
The final allotment list will be submitted to district-level committee for approval and later the district collector will issue sanction orders.
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