PIL alleges irregularities in implementing Kudankulam free housing scheme

Madurai: A public interest litigation (PIL) has been filed at the Madurai bench of the Madras high court alleging irregularities in the selection of beneficiaries under the free concrete housing scheme for villages around Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant (KKNPP) in Tirunelveli.
On this petition, the division bench of Justice Nooty. Ramamohana Rao and Justice S S Sundar on Wednesday directed the government to receive a detailed report from an officer who is in the cadre of principal secretary, about selection of beneficiaries and implementation of the scheme.It, then, adjourned the case by eight weeks.
A Thillairaj of Samugarangapuram in Tirunelveli has filed the PIL. He said, under the scheme the government decided to construct 5,000 houses including in 32 village panchayats in Radhapuram and Valliyoor Panchayat Unions in Tirunelveli district.
Accordingly, 183 beneficiaries were selected in the Samugarangapuram village panchayat in Radhapuram Panchayat Union. Under the scheme, homeless people who are below poverty line should be selected.
Contrary to it, the village panchayat president and officials had selected those already possessed houses. Government servants have also been selected under the scheme. The officials did not conduct any inquiry before selecting the beneficiaries, he said.
Narrating the entire facts, a representation was submitted to the concern officials on June 23. But, there was no action.
Hence, it is necessary to give a direction to the state's panchayati raj and rural development principal secretary and Tirunelveli district collector to conduct an inquiry with regard to the implementation of the scheme; selection of beneficiaries and to provide houses to eligible persons, the petitioner prayed.