Chief Minister Raman Singh on Monday said the desirable target to construct houses for urban poor under the centrally sponsored BSUP scheme could not be met due to the delay caused by Hindustan Prefab and other agencies.
Replying to a question raised by Congress member Amit Jogi during the Question Hour, the Chief Minister said the State had received approval in 2008 to construct 27976 houses at an investment of Rs 1.29 lakh for each of the house. Since the Municipal Corporation did not have the required technical knowledge, the work was allotted to Hindustan Prefab ltd, a Central Government undertaking.
The Government also signed a tri-party agreement for the purpose. The Government also identified 17 places for the construction of the houses. However during a review next year, it was found that the company did not make satisfactory progress. It had constructed only 5210 houses half way by that time. As a result, the Government withdraw the work of remaining 22776 houses. While work for 3360 houses were handed over to Housing Board, 3792 houses are being constructed by the Municipal Corporation, he said.
The houses by Housing Board and Municipal Corporation are on the verge of completion while the 5210 houses which Hindustan Prefab ltd were supposed to build, are yet to be completed, the Chief Minister said while disclosing that more than 15000 houses still remain incomplete. Replying to his another question that why more than 4245 of the 7056 constructed houses in Raipur continued to remain vacant, the Chief Minister said people were unwilling to take accommodation because the houses are located at distance places. Since the connectivity has improved, the Municipal Corporation would soon allot them to the beneficiaries.