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Congress alleges anomalies in housing for dalits in AP

Members of the opposition Congress in the Andhra Pradesh assembly today staged a walkout after the government rejected their demand for the constitution of a house committee to probe the alleged irregularities in the housing programme meant for weaker sections.

Before leading the walkout, leader of the opposition Y S Rajasekhara Reddy alleged that the houses meant for dalits were given to upper castes and Telugu Desam Party functionaries.

He said the proposed inquiry could also probe into any irregularities committed during the Congress regime.

Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu, who intervened during the short debate on the issue, however, rejected the demand for the appointment of a house committee and assured the members that action would be taken if any specific cases were brought to the government's notice.

He said the cabinet sub-committee appointed to streamline the implementation of various welfare programmes would also evaluate the housing programme. He asked the members to give their suggestions as a new policy was being evolved to ensure transparency. District collectors were instructed not to select new beneficiaries under the scheme till the new policy was finalised.

He said the government had so far constructed 3.5 million houses as against 10 million all over the country. An amount of Rs 8,740 million was allocated for the weaker sections' housing programme this year, he added.

UNI

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