In an apparent move to woo the reserved and backward classes in Himachal Pradesh before the Assembly elections slated later this year, the Congress Government has put their cases for housing on the fast track. The Government is now clearing the three-year backlog of no less than 12,876 cases.

Informing Himachal Pradesh assembly about the plan of government to clear pendency, Social Justice and Empowerment Minister Col DR Shandil said that government had been clearing 60 percent backlog every year besides taking new applications for house allotment regularly.

Replying to a query raised by BJP legislator Govind Singh Thakur, the Minister said that there was a total pendency of 12,876 applications for house allotment to SC, ST and OBCs.

He said that department had also been providing funds for new houses after fire and natural calamities.

The Minister said that amendments had been brought in the rules to reduce the pendency of about 12,876 cases under SC, ST and OBC categories.

Accusing government of a reckless approach for providing houses to the backward classes, Thakur alleged that only 10 cases of OBCs were cleared by the department and the number of pendency had gone up to 61 in Manali assembly segment only. He alleged that the grant of fund for house had also been reduced from 3 lakh to 2.15 lakh.

Replying to another query during question hour, Health Minister Kaul Singh Thakur told the house that Pt Jawahar lal Nehru Medical College would start functioning soon as 101 Bigha land belonging to Animal Husbandry had been transferred to college.