TN hsg quota abused to benefit judges,MLAs

TN hsg quota abused to benefit judges,MLAs

Jayaraj Sivan | TNN

Chennai: Close on the heels of the controversy surrounding land allotments to prominent politicians in Karnataka,a RTI activist in Chennai has blown the lid off similar largesse showered on judges,legislators and bureaucrats by the Tamil Nadu Housing Board.According to housing board records acquired under RTI,many allotments have been made over the past decade through the state governments discretionary quota (GDQ),nearly 40% of them in 2008 alone.
The primary objective of the state-run TNHB,which manages a large land bank,is to create housing stock by granting plots or constructing flats at an affordable price for those who do not own one.The broad guidelines are intended to favour applicants who do not own a flat/house/plot within urban limits in any part of the state or in schemes promoted by TNHB anywhere in Tamil Nadu in ones name or in the name of spouses or minor children.The same conditions apply for the discretionary quota although the government is free to fast-track the application.According to RTI data,scores of allotments have been made in the last five years,in Mogappair and Thiruvanmiyur,violating norms.
The information was procured by V Gopalakrishnan,a RTI activist who filed applications seeking information from TNHB.According to the data provided to him,beneficiaries allotted land or flats at rates 40-60 % less than market value,include a sitting judge of the Madras HC,Congress and DMK legislators,senior police officials and bureaucrats such as a former regional passport officer.