The HC wants a report on the rural housing scheme.

Vijayawada: The AP high court expressed its displeasure with the state government on Tuesday for failing to release funds to beneficiaries of the YSR Rural Housing Programme, formerly known as the NTR Housing Programme.

The high court stated that altering the name of the scheme will not benefit the people unless payments are made on time. Because the finance department and the Andhra Pradesh State Housing Corporation (APSHC) made contradictory submissions, the high court ordered the finance department to submit an action taken report on the APSHC proposals.

Several petitions have been filed in the high court challenging the state government’s failure to release funds to YSR Rural Housing Programme beneficiaries. They claim that the state government only deposited Rs 1 in their accounts in 2019. Beneficiaries of the scheme are entitled to Rs 1.5 lakh from the state government, while SC and ST beneficiaries are entitled to Rs 2 lakh.

The petitioners’ counsel argued that they completed the house construction by borrowing money from moneylenders after receiving assurance from the state government.

Despite the fact that APSHC officials inspected the houses, the amount due from the state government has not been released, resulting in them paying exorbitant interest on the money borrowed for house construction.

The counsel for the principal secretary of finance stated that no proposal for the release of funds for payment to the petitioners is currently pending with them. On the contrary, APSHC stated that they have submitted proposals to the finance department in the amount of Rs 358 crore, which will be paid to the beneficiaries of the residential project.

Given all of the arguments, Justice expressed his displeasure and frustration over the finance department. He stated that the APSHC letters clearly demonstrate that the finance department’s claim that there is no pending release of funds on their end is inaccurate.

It appears that the poor beneficiaries borrowed the money in the hope of receiving government assistance and are now saddled with massive debt.

According to Justice Devanand, changing the name of the scheme will not profit poor people in any way unless the scheme is strictly implemented by promptly releasing the amounts.

The high court ordered the finance department to submit an action taken report on the proposals sent by APSHC for the release of Rs 358 crore for payment to 1.3 lakh beneficiaries and set the matter for further hearing on January 18.