Errant housing societies to feel heat

BANGALORE: The state government has decided to crack the whip on the various house building cooperative societies which had reportedly flouted norms in acquiring land and allotment of sites.An inquiry has been ordered into 122 such institutions functioning in Bangalore and Mysore.Addressing newsmen here on Wednesday, Minister for Cooperation Lakshman Savadi said that the government has constituted three teams of senior department officials comprising joint and deputy registrars of the cooperation department have been instructed to look into the matter and submit a report within two months to initiate further legal action.“The government order was issued after instances of irregularities by the cooperative bodies were unearthed in a preliminary investigation,” he informed.81 and 31 such societies in Bangalore Urban and Rural districts and Mysore, respectively have been found guilty of committing violations.“Also, a concurrent audit would be conducted on these institutions,” Savadi added.The alleged irregularities in land acquisition, formation and allotment of sites and financial irregularities by societies in Bangalore and Mysore, would also be probed.Referring to the glaring irregularities in prominent societies such as Vyalikaval Housing Society and Karnataka State Legislature Employees House Building Coop Society, he disclosed that notices have been served to them for “superseding” the management.The minister claimed that the government was committed to bring the guilty to book.