Housing and drinking water schemes poorly implemented in Mangalore

Housing and drinking water schemes poorly implemented in Mangalore

Mangalore Today News Network

Mangalore, Feb 28, 2012: Issues such as delay in the construction of houses for the poor, non payment of pensions for the past six months, delay in road repair and construction, lack of drinking water facility, and many more were brought up for discussion at the District Vigilance and Monitoring Committee meeting, chaired by MP Nalin Kumar Kateel on Feb 27 Monday. 

Indira Awas Yojana
The Indira Awas Yojana has been badly implemented in Mangalore. Although the target is to construct houses for 539 beneficiaries in 2011 – 12, only 310 applications have been cleared and construction of 104 houses has just begun. Only 15 houses stand completed. Two hundred beneficiaries are yet to be identified. 

Basava Scheme
While the target is to provide houses for 2000 beneficiaries under the Basava Vasanthi Yojana, 100 beneficiaries are yet to be identified in Belthangady. Only 8 houses stand completed and 504 houses are in various stages of completion. According to an official, the construction of 1,365 houses is yet to begin. 

Reasons
Speaking on the occasion, several officials, including K. N. Vijayprakash, the CEO of the ZP, said that these housing schemes are not taking off because they require the opening of an account only in State Bank of India to receive funds from the Rajiv Gandhi Rural Housing Corporation Ltd. They also gave reasons such as non availability of beneficiaries belonging to the SC/ST, shortage of land for the purpose, and inadequate staff. 

Expressing his unhappiness about the poor progress of the housing schemes, MP Nalin Kumar Kateel said that he wants monthly progress reports from now on and not excuses for failure to implement the schemes. 

N. Yogish Bhat, the deputy speaker of the legislative assembly, said that subsidies given to the poor for housing schemes must be increased as beneficiaries felt that constructing a house with just Rs. 50,000 to Rs. 60,000 is difficult. 

Water Supply
According to Mr. Prakash, the recent government order directing officials to pay Mangalore Electricity Supply Company (Mescom) a higher amount has had an adverse affect on drinking water schemes. Officials complained that they have to deposit at least Rs. 4 lakh to Rs. 5 lakh with Mescom while earlier they had to deposit only Rs. 1 lakh.