22,000 RHB houses remain unsold during BJP government: CM Ashok Gehlot

JAIPUR: In a scathing attack, chief minister Ashok Gehlot said that 22,000 houses of the Rajasthan Housing Board (RHB) remained unsold during the time of previous BJP government. However, the government continued to construct houses. Gehlot was speaking during the ceremony to unveil the statue of late Dwarkadas Purohit who was a freedom fighter and founder chairman of RHB.
The CM said, after coming to power, our government took a policy decision and gave the responsibility of selling the pre-built houses to the board officials to benefit the consumers.
Gehlot said, “We are making efforts in order to provide roof to poor, lower middle and middle class. Directions were given to the board to launch such schemes in which houses could be made available to the common man at a cheaper rate.” He also urged the banks to come forward and cooperate in this regard.
Speaking on the occasion, urban development and housing (UDH) department minister Shanti Dhariwal said the previous government had turned RHB into a defunct entity.
As RHB witnessed immense success in filling its coffers through e-auction of unsold flats, the minister praised the efforts of the officials. During the real estate slump, the RHB earned Rs 166 crore by selling 1,011 flats and houses across the state.
Criticising the previous BJP government, Dhariwal said, “The last government failed to utilise the manpower and infrastructure resources of the RHB and made it defunct. Our efforts have revived the hopes of strengthening the board and we successfully sold flats.”
BJP MLA from Sanganear constituency Ashok Lahoty who was present on the occasion also praised the chief minister for his works. He said, “Across the country, Gehlot has Gandhian and zero corruption tolerance image.”
An official said minister has assured to bring amendments in the RHB Act 1970 which will empower the Rajasthan Housing Board to remove encroachments from its land and boost infrastructure.