Guj Assembly adjourned over delay in construction of houses

Gandhinagar, Mar 15 (UNI) The Gujarat assembly was adjourned for 15 minutes today by Speaker Mangaldas Patel amidst noisy scenes pertaining to a question over delay in construction of rural houses, being built under the Sardar Awas Yojana by the government.

The house witnessed commotion during the afternoon session for over 10 minutes on a question on the subject by Congress member Anil Kumar Patel.

The commotion took place when leader of opposition Arjun Modhwadia and Punjabhai Vans were asking a supplementary. Both pressed for a reply from the minister on the ''administrative delay'' over the completion of houses, built with government aid.

Rural housing minister Bharat Barot was not willing to explain further other than ''administrative reason'' over 60 houses being built under Sardar Awas Yojana.

He had said construction of 30 houses is under progress as on January 31, 2007. These 30 houses will be completed once the administrative reasons are fulfilled.

The opposition members, however, tried to grill the minister.

The members of ruling BJP and Congress were on their feet, verbally trying to counter each other. At the same time, Finance minister Vajubhai Vala tried to explain the administrative reason for the delay over the houses being built at Bardoli taluka of Valsad district.

Mr Vala said houses are being built in a phased manner and payments are being made to the owners of the houses or to the agencies involved in the work.

This further infuriated the opposition who insisted Barot should explain clearly about the delay and give details about the type of ''administrative'' reasons which are delaying the project.

Amidst the verbal duel, the speaker adjourned the house for 15 minutes.

UNI