Legislative Council chairperson Tarakant Jha. Telegraph picture

Patna, Feb. 29: Legislative Council chairperson Tarakant Jha today directed the Bihar State Co-operative Society registrar to probe into the alleged anomaly in allotment of plots to people’s representatives.

Some incumbent and former legislators were allotted plots in the state capital under the Bihar MP and State Legislature Member House Construction Co-operative Committee scheme.

Jha also asked the registrar to submit a report within three months.

Kautilya Colony in the capital has houses of several politicians, including RJD chief Lalu Prasad. The co-operative society came into existence in the early ’90s. Present and former MLAs and MPs were allotted land after they submitted written affidavits, declaring that they did not own a house anywhere else in the state capital.

Member of the council Mahachandra Prasad Singh, during a call-attention motion, raised the question. He alleged that large-scale irregularities and violation of norms in the plot allotments. He said while many present and former representatives of the people were allotted three-four plots each, several members, who had flats or plots in the state capital, were allotted land under the scheme.

“Initially, a few members were allotted plots after they submitted affidavits that they fulfilled the criteria set by the committee. However, many of the bona fide beneficiaries were never transferred the land, while a few got several in their names. The committee, which does not even hold regular meetings, has allotted the plots by blatantly ignoring the norms,” Singh accused.

Co-operative minister Ramadhar Singh assured the House that the government would get the matter probed and would take action if the charges of irregularities were found true. The agitating members demanded that the government gave a timeframe by when the investigation would be completed and should disintegrate the panel.

Many of them insisted that the plots should be allotted afresh. Jha, however, intervened in the discussion and said the registrar should probe into the matter within three months and the government would act accordingly.

Earlier, responding to a query posed by Neeraj Kumar, tourism minister Sunil Kumar “Pintu” said the government was hiring a consultant to prepare a detailed project report to develop all the mythological sites related to Ramayana in the state.

He added that many sites would be developed to promote tourism according to the government’s Ramayana Circuit project for which a sum would be allocated separately by the department.

“While some of the sites have been identified by the legends, many of them are significant through research-based evidences. All these sites have great potential to draw huge tourists if they are developed properly,” said Pintu.

The sites include Tar, Ahirauli, Ram Rekha Ghat, Pretshila Hills, Giddheshwar, Kako, Phullahar, Sita Kund, Ramchura, Vaishali, Ahilya Asthan Janki Temple (Sitamarhi), Janki Temple Haleshwar Asthan Panth Pakar, Chanki Garh and Valmiki Nagar among others.

Taking cognisance of charges levelled by Mahachandra that a stretch constructed between Muzaffarpur district headquarters and Chandra Lok overbridge broke within two months of its construction, deputy chief minister Sushil Kumar Modi assured that the urban development and road construction departments will get the matter probed within 15 days.