Patna, Nov. 28: In view of the increasing number of complaints from a large section of people regarding the poor maintenance of Bihar State Housing Board (BSHB) buildings, the urban development ministry has decided to propose a policy change and sell plots instead of flats to residents.

Sources in the department said that the allegations that sub-standard construction material is used in the construction of buildings and that they are not maintained properly by the board have forced the ministry to take the decision.

Newly appointed urban development minister Prem Kumar said: “I have taken the decision keeping in mind the convenience of the people. Now that the plot will be handed over to them, they can get their houses constructed according to their own satisfaction and can also maintain them the way they want to. Though we are yet to decide upon the details of new rules, plots in every categories can have two-three storey buildings.”

Sources said that several residential buildings constructed by the board in Patna and several other parts of the city are crumbling.

“With loose bricks and plasters falling all over, tragedy can strike some of the housing board buildings any day. Time is ticking on several others, including those at Kankerbagh and New Ambedkar Colony at Yaarpur area. This is because these buildings are not maintained properly and if an accident happens, it will only be the boards’ responsibility. Therefore, they are planning to change the policy,” a source told The Telegraph.

Officials in the ministry said a final decision over the issue is yet to be taken.

“The plots will be handed over to the people with all civic facilities such as drainage, sewerage, potable water, park, road etc. Presently the flats are constructed in HIG (High Income Group), MIG (Middle Income Group) and LIG (Lower Income Group) categories. The plots will be classified into these categories as per the size. The exact size of the plots in various categories, however, is yet to be decided,” said a senior official in the ministry.

He added that a meeting has been called by the minister on Monday to discuss the details of land available with the board in various districts.

“The discussion will also include points like present condition of flats and blocks constructed by the board. A final decision over the policy change will be taken after state cabinet approves it,” he further said.

The allotees would need to get the construction blueprint approved by the board, officials added. Those who have already applied for flats will be given priority during plot allotment.

Residents, meanwhile, said that it was a good proposal by the ministry. “People have been pointing fingers at the board for poor quality flats. Proofs of this are the MIG flats constructed by the board at the Kankerbagh area where I live. These flats present a sorry picture. Some of the flats have never been plastered. Those which were have worn out and trees are growing out of many of the building. These flats were allotted to the applicant several years after they applied and started paying the installments. Maybe the new move would speed up the process of possession of land and construction of flats,” said Bhawani Tripathy, a resident of Kankerbagh.

CRUMBLING GLORY

The housing board is blamed for constructing poor quality flats and it’s not without a reason.

*Block-C of Vaishavi Plaza Apartments at Boring Canal Road collapsed in 2007; none hurt

* A building at MIG colony in Sector-3, Kankerbagh, collapsed on June 21, 2010; three persons killed

*Quarter of Grade-4 employees of Patna University, also constructed by the state housing board, collapsed on July 13 this year; one killed