Indian Express 12.11.2009
Housing scheme: after spot verification, 89% applicants found ineligible
Of the 3,476 applications received for the allotment of free houses to the urban poor in Lucknow under the Manya-war Shree Kanshiram Shahari Gareeb Awaas Yojna, only 363 have been found eligible.
The rest, which constitutes more than 89 per cent, were found ineligible during spot verification, as the applicants owned assets like pucca house, land and vehicles.
Interestingly, the administration found that around 250 applicants had submitted Above Poverty Line (APL) cards but in the spot verification they were found to be poor. The district administration is going to send a proposal to the government so that they may be allotted the houses.
Since 1,500 houses are being built under the scheme in Lucknow, 1,137 houses will not have any deserving applicants.
According to sources, the government will invite fresh applications for these houses, which are being built on city’s outskirts.
Chief Minister Mayawati had announced the scheme last year. It was proposed to build 1.01 lakh houses in the form of multi-storied apartments across the state. Only people below poverty line could apply for the houses.
In Lucknow, the administration invited application in February-March. Altogether 3,476 applications were received and the verification work was completed last week. As many as 2,237 applicants were found to be holding APL cards.
“Applications which do not fulfill the criteria will be cancelled,” said O P Pathak, Additional District Magistrate. He said applications would be invited again shortly.
Pathak said the allotment will begin soon after LDA completes the work. The houses were to be built by August, but as of now only the structure of the buildings has been constructed.
