Facing allotment scams, state finally scraps GDQ

Facing allotment scams, state finally scraps GDQJanuary 8th, 2011
DC Correspondent

Jan. 7: The government has scrapped the government’s discretionary quota (GDQ) after coming in for severe criticism over irregularities in the allotment of house sites and houses of the Tamil Nadu House Board through the system.

In his address to the Assembly on Friday Governor S.S. Barnala said, “The system of allotting houses and plots under the GDQ in vogue for several years in TNHB is being put to an end from today.” The misuse of the discretionary powers in allotting prime land to scores of people including judges, relatives of politicians, bureaucrats and senior police officials came to light a month ago. Under the system, 15 per cent of the total houses and sites are allotted through the GDQ while the remaining are sold through lots from the public.

RTI activists exposed the scam on people obtaining prime land under the social worker and unblemished government servant categories through the GDQ. Chief minister M. Karunanidhi had maintained the mere allotment under GDQ was not wrong. He said the land was sold at market rate and the allottees were not given any price concession.

The government has fine-tuned the role of the TNHB to implement the massive housing at an affordable price. Mr Barnala said the poor and middle class in cities and towns could not buy homes due to high cost.

“The government has planned to construct houses and assign plots to lower and middle income groups in Chennai, its suburban areas and towns like Coimbatore, Madurai, Tiruchy, Erode and Hosur over 1,100 acres of TNHB lands at an affordable price,” he said.