Pinarayi Vijayan | Photo: Mathrubhumi
Thiruvananthapuram: Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan asserted that the state government will not disband the Kerala State Housing Board. He directed to correct the note of Chief Secretary VP Joy which recommended disbanding the board in the minutes of the meeting of department secretaries.
Minister for Housing K Rajan had requested the CM’s approval to continue with the projects of Housing Board after directing the chief secretary to edit the minutes. The Chief Minister advised to proceed with the committed projects of the Housing Board in a file returned to the Department of Revenue.
The chief secretary suggested disbanding the housing board during a meeting convened to discuss the arrears that has to be obtained from certain Public Sector Undertakings.
Though Minister Rajan urged the chief secretary to edit the minutes, the latter did not yield. The minister lashed out that the left front or the government has not decided to disband the board. Besides this, the minister bitterly criticised the chief secretary during the cabinet meeting held on Wednesday.
Meanwhile, the Department of Revenue demanded the Finance department to immediately settle the arrears of the Housing Board. Arrears worth Rs 243 crore was pending for the board from the government on account of the rents of PSUs and the waiving off housing loans for the economically weaker sections. Out of this, the board has received only Rs 20 crore. The state government has approved another Rs 20 crore for the board. However, the Department of Finance informed that only Rs 12.5 crore can be transferred currently due to the financial crisis and the remaining amount will be paid in March. The Minister for Revenue has expressed his defiance over the decision of the Finance department.
RELATED STORIES
.jpg?$p=48405e6&f=1x1&w=100&q=0.8)
.jpg?$p=11c1bb2&q=0.8&f=16x11&w=104)
.jpg?$p=08558d0&q=0.8&f=16x11&w=104)
%20(1).jpg?$p=7072c37&q=0.8&f=16x11&w=104)
%20(2).jpg?$p=897e24d&q=0.8&f=16x11&w=104)
.jpg?$p=dde21db&q=0.8&f=16x11&w=104)
