RIICO fails to implement Raje’s mandate to provide houses to the poor

The state government’s industrial investment wing RIICO is yet to implement the  government’s  new policy on the use of industrial land of sick units for building homes for the poor under the Mukhya Mantri Jan Awas Yojana. The government has issued a notification on April 3, 2017 under which the use of industrial land  of RIICO where industrial units were located and  which  ceased to work after becoming sick for the past three years were allowed for providing housing for the poor. The land use of the industrial land were allowed to be changed for housing purposes under the Mukhya Mantri Awas Yojana. Only such land that had industrial units on it and such industrial units became sick and ceased production for three years  were allowed to be used for low cost housing under the notification.

Last year, the state government started thinking to make  best use of industrial land for the purpose of housing and the then UDH minister Rajpal Singh  Shekhawat convened a meeting of the builders on this issue. The builders suggested change of  rules on land use. Later a high-powered committee deliberated on the issue and  the matter was referred to a sub committee of the  Cabinet and later a committee under the Home minister Gulab Chand Kataria gave final shape to the   land  use amendments  and the final decision on the issue was left with the Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje. The state government  issued a notifications after the Chief Minister put the seal of approval on the key land use  issue.

This decision was taken after much deliberations at a high level and the  then  CMD of RIICO Umesh Kumar had agreed  that the land on which the sick units  were located could be best use for the purpose of housing. After this decision, the Cabinet also approved the land use change.

Under the provision, as the land belonged to the RIICO, the RIICO was required to make necessary amendments  and  changes in its rules relating to the use of the  industrial land and providing for  housing activities on the land.

But the managing director of RIICO, Mugdha Sinha expressed her dissent with the notifications on change of land use of the industrial land. As the MD, Sinha did not order amendments in the rules,the chairman of  RIICO and the additional  chief secretary industries Rajeev Swarup ordered that the process of circulation could be used for seeking the approval of the RIICO’s board on making the amendments.

The MD, Sinha issued  circulation notes and  this was sent to the members of the RIICO’s board also. Majority of the RIICO’s directors  also signed giving their approval for making the change in land  rules. But the MD  who is also a board of director of RIICO  did not sign on the circulation note herself. This circulation proposal was valid for just seven days and after this the proposal was automatically dropped after the expiry of seven days period.

The RIICO board met on June 29, 2017 in which the provisions of the Mukhya Mantri Jan Awas Yojana was discussed and the  board gave its approval to the provisions Ic (i) and I C (ii).But  the board  did not approve the provisions of IC (iii) and the board members authorised the managing director to  take up the issue in the infrastructure development committee (IDC).The various aspects of framing rules for  using the industrial land  for housing purposes was to be discussed by the IDC. It was the IDC  which had to decide  on the various rules relating to approval of various proposals of housing and how the RIICO would  give its approvals and the NOC to go ahead with the housing project.

But the meeting of the RIICO’s IDC in July could not decide on the  rules and regulations and the matter remains pending and the policy decision of the government on housing remains unimplemented because of the apathy of the RIICO.

But Mugdha Sinha insists that the provisions of I (c (i) and IC (ii) of the Mukhya Mantri Jan Awas Scheme has been approved by RIICO and the RIICO is fully geared to implement the state government’s policy

The present ACS industries and RIICO chairman, Rajeev Swarup has turned into a silent spectator as she does not listen to him in most of the matters.  

It is estimated that 50,000 houses could be built on such land and  large number of such lands are available in Jaipur’s Malviya Nagar and Mansarovar industrial areas.

MD’s dissent hampers work

Under the provision, as the land belonged to RIICO, it was required to make necessary amendments  and changes in its rules relating to the use of the  industrial land and providing for housing activities on the land. But RIICO MD expressed her dissent with notifications on change of land use of the industrial land.