Cong slams move on eligibility

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, December 7

Former Union Minister Pawan Kumar Bansal and Pradeep Chhabra, president of the city unit of the Congress have condemned the Chandigarh Housing Board (CHB) decision of not floating the housing scheme for eligible persons under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojna (PMAY).

In a press statement, Bansal called the decision as a ploy to escape from responsibility. Lashing out at the authorities, Bansal asked: “How is it possible that of the over 1,27,000 applicants, the CHB has found only 450 people eligible to avail the scheme?

There is every reason to doubt this survey conducted under which only 0.3% of the total number of applicants have qualified. Is this how you implement a ‘Housing for All’ scheme?”

The former MP has also expressed the need to re-evaluate the 1,27,000 applications and build houses for them.

“People are tired of shock therapies and the government going back on its promises,” he said.

Chhabra said the BJP government first made thousands of people stand in queues for submitting the applications and then suddenly decided not to construct the houses.

He said the decision had exposed the ‘ jumlebaji’ of the BJP government.

Chhabra has also condemned the decision of the Municipal Corporation to hike the parking rates. Terming the decision as another blow to people, he said while the government promised to bring ‘achhe din’ but it has brought ‘bure din’ to residents.