Twenty-nine house allotments for All India Service (AIS) officers have been cancelled under the controversial `445-crore Nerkundram housing scheme for government servants, as they had already availed of allotment under the government discretionary quota (GDQ) in Greater Chennai. Norms stipulate that the GDQ can be invoked only once.
The list of those whose allotments were cancelled comprises 14 Indian Administrative Service officers of the Tamil Nadu cadre and 15 Indian Police Service officers.
Significantly, 17 AIS officers voluntary surrendered their Nerkundram allotments, Tamil Nadu Housing Board (TNHB), sources revealed.
Besides, till the first week of June, 10 other AIS officers had not furnished details on whether or not they had already opted for the government discretionary quota, the sources said.
The cancellation comes in the wake of allegations that some AIS officers had invoked the GDQ for the second or third time under the ‘Own Your House’ Nerkundram Housing Scheme, which was floated during the DMK regime.
The project, which got the approval of the Tamil Nadu Housing Board (TNHB) under GO 56 issued on February 28, 2011 — just a day prior to the Assembly elections — was mired in controversy after it was revealed that of the nearly 450 AIS allottees, many already had houses under the GDQ.
According to government order (GO) 79, any applicant who owns a house or plot would not be eligible
for a new house under the GDQ. The GO continues to be valid, according to an RTI reply to a query by an activist V Gopalakrishnan.
TNHB sources denied that the cost of the flats is less than 50 per cent of the market price.
“In fact, the tentative cost is likely to be raised by more than 25 per cent. A proposal in this regard has been placed before the board meeting. The final cost will be determined after the scheme is completed,” the source added.