Deb quota does not stand up to scrutiny

Ravik Bhattacharya ; Hindustan Times; KOLKATA; April 15, 2011;

RTI QUERY State housing minister queers pre-poll pitch with another controversy

NAILED ?

• Chairman's quota has no legal sanction

• 10% quota system in practice

• No paper available with housing board on when, what and percentage of chairman's quota

• Discretionary quota is based on what the chairman deems fit

• Over 500 HIG, MIG and LIG flats at prime locations given out

Even on March 1 (day when poll dates were announced) flats have been given out under the quota

CPI(M)’s star campaigner and state housing development minister Gautam Deb is all set to walk into another controversy. The state housing board, of which Deb is the chairman, has said that the chairman’s quota through which hundreds of flats have been distributed has no legitimacy. Replying to an RTI query, a copy of which is available with HT, the state public information officer has also emphasised that the eligibility of the beneficiaries was solely based on the chairman. According to the documents available with HT, Deb allotted flats on February 23, 25 and even on March 1, the day when Election Commission announced the poll dates.

“Please refer to any brochure of the housing board. It mentions 10% chairman’s quota. It is in vogue for many years,” Deb told HT on Thursday evening. “There are documents available from which it can be ascertained from when, how and in what percentage the chairman's quota in respect of dwelling units are being reserved in the West Bengal Housing Board,“ reads the RTI response dated January 11, 2011. The response was to a questionnaire put up by Timir Chakraborty, who is the working president of West Bengal Housing Board Employees Federation, on September 8, 2010. Talking to HT, Chakraborty said, “This is a long standing scam.” The West Bengal Housing Board was set up in 1972 under the chairmanship of Bhola Sen. From 1977; a 5% chairman’s quota was introduced and subsequently doubled. Deb has been the chairman since 1990.

Chakraborty alleged that over 500 lower income group, middle income group and high income group apartments have been allotted through this quota. “Beneficiaries include politicians, a few judges, journalists, bureaucrats,” claimed Chakraborty. Sixteen flats have been allotted to people like Jyotirmoyee Sikdar, he alleged.