THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The City Corporation will soon file an affidavit before the High Court making its stand clear on the row that has erupted over the beneficiary list allotting houses under the Basic Service to Urban Poor (BSUP) scheme in Karimadom colony. Welfare Standing Committee Chairman Palayam Rajan said that the Corporation will file the affidavit without delay, since dragging of legal proceedings will result in more difficulties for the 20 families caught in the controversy. It was in July that some residents of the Karimadom colony, who allegedly were not given any houses in the second phase, moved the court accusing the Corporation and the community organiser in the colony of violating norms and showing discrimination in choosing the beneficiaries. The petitioners, six of them, had moved the court saying that some of the beneficiaries included in the first phase (80 houses were allotted in the first phase) were not even residents of the colony. Some have other places of abode or property. They added that the selection of 80 persons was made through a lot system. The petition alleged that some among the 80 flats have been rented out or mortgaged by the original allottees to third parties, including labour workers from northern states. They also alleged that they have been shown discrimination since they do not belong to any political party. In the second phase, 20 houses have been allotted. However, when the families (who are now living in the community hall here) were about to shift to the new houses, the petitioners alleged that the allotment was not proper. With the row hotting up, the petitioners had moved the Court and the Corporation was asked by the Court to submit an affidavit in the matter. The Corporation is of the opinion that the row has been deliberately kicked up by a group whose kin had been allotted houses in the first phase, but have not been allotted any in the present phase. The scheme was started off a couple of years ago and it was almost two years back that the beneficiary list was finalised. If there were discrepancies, then why were they not pointed out earlier, ask the Corporation officials. Meanwhile, the meeting earlier planned for Tuesday over a similar controversy in Rajaji Nagar (Chenkalchoola) was postponed as many beneficiaries did not receive the notice. The new date has not been fixed.
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