Ex-MD of Rajiv Swagruha in the dock

Ministers' panel A holds A Shalini Mishra responsible for scam

• No takers for 12,000 houses because of escalated pricesA
• Huge burden of `2,000 crore on the government
• Notice to be issued to the official

Patan Afzal Babu Hyderabad: The state government has initiated action against senior IAS official Shalini Mishra for failure in the implementation of the prestigious Rajiv Swagruha scheme and alleged 'misuse' of administrative powers during her five-year term as the Managing Director (MD) of the AP Rajiv Swagruha Corporation Limited. There was no proper planning and utilization of funds. Of the 16,000 flats and independent houses constructed by the Corporation only 4,000 have been sold. There are no takers for the remaining houses as the prices have been jacked up making them too expensive for the common man. Based on an inquiry conducted by a five-member ministers' panel on the subject, constituted last year, Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy instructed the General Administration Department (GAD) to issue notice to the 1988 batch bureaucrat and seek her explanation for the failure of the scheme. Top officials told The Hans India that the ministers' panel found that the official put a Rs 2,000 crore burden on the government by taking about Rs 1,000 crore loans from scheduled banks, Rs 300 crore on loan interests, pending payments to contractors to the tune of Rs 300 crore and another Rs 375 crore collected from the beneficiaries of Swagruha scheme. The official took the loans from scheduled banks by mortgaging the lands owned by the Corporation.A In a recent meeting held by the Chief Minister with the panel, the ministers reportedly informed Reddy that Shalini Mishra took all decisions unilaterally, including taking of bank loans, and did not communicate the same to the government or even the housing ministers ( B Satyanarayana, Kanna Laxminarayana and the present minister N Uttam Kumar Reddy) in the last five years (2007-12), which ultimately placed Rs 2,000 crore burden on state exchequer. Though the Corporation MD was given all powers she failed to perform the duties and instead put a heavy burden on the government and the beneficiaries. The panel also questioned her stay in the post for five years continuously, until the official was transferred in September 2012. A At present, she is serving as vice-chairman and Managing Director of AP Industrial Development Corporation (APIDC). Sources said that Housing Minister K Laxminarayana also submitted a 'confidential' report to the Chief Minister about the alleged irregularities in the housing scheme during his term in 2011. But no action was taken on his complaint so far.A The panel strongly suggested to the government to take action against the IAS official and make her accountable for the 'misdeeds or misuse of power' whatever she committed . The panel consisted of Finance Minister A Ramanarayana Reddy, Housing Minister N Uttam Kumar Reddy, Municipal Administration and Urban Development Minister M Maheedhar Reddy and Stamps and Registrations minister T Narasimham and Revenue Minister N Raghuveera Reddy.A On the instructions of Kiran Reddy Principal Secretary (Housing) R Karikal Valavan prepared a strong note and forwarded to the GAD last week. The GAD is yet to issue a notice to the IAS official. As there was no option left to revive the scheme, the government was planning to auction the unsold flats and lands owned by the Corporation to pay all debts incurred in the next financial year. Former Chief Minister YS Rajasekhara Reddy launched the unique and affordable housing scheme for moderate income groups in the urban areas in 2007 and appointed Shalini Mishra as the MD of the Corporation.