Leader of Opposition in the Assembly Jagadish Shettar has urged the State government to order a probe into the alleged irregularities in the construction of houses and their distribution under the Slum Development programme here.
Speaking to presspersons after visiting a colony in Bammapur along Mantur Road, along with Pralhad Joshi, MP, here on Monday, Mr. Shettar said that prima facie it appears that the funds provided for the construction of houses have been misused. It was a ₹ 13-crore project executed in 2006. However, the houses were built using substandard material and as a result, they are now in dilapidated condition today. Although most of the houses were rendered unoccupied, the houses should have been in good condition. However, it is not so and most of them have crumbled, he said.
The State government should order an inquiry by a senior IAS officer and file criminal cases against the officials of the Karnataka Slum Development Board who were responsible for it, he said. People have also complained about irregularities in the selection of beneficiaries and about many actual beneficiaries not getting houses. The State government would be asked to inquire into this matter also, he said.
About the failure of elected representatives in ensuring quality in government development works, Mr. Shettar said that it was always not possible to maintain vigil over all works. The officials too should show concern in executing the works properly. There were complaints especially in housing schemes. There should be a monitoring system in the State level. But suggestions made to the government in this regard during the legislative session were not taken seriously, he said.
