Bihar minister admits huge black money in real estate, construction business

Patna,(BiharTimes): The state government admitted that huge amounts of black money have been invested in real estate in Bihar, particularly in Patna, pushing prices of apartments to unrealistic levels.

Replying to a debate on his department’s Rs 2115.90 crore budget for 2013-14 the state Urban Development and Housing Construction Minister Prem Kumar conceded in the state Assembly on Wednesday that the apartments in Patna and other cities and towns in Bihar are dearer in comparison to New Delhi and other big cities.

He said the builders are making big money by selling flats at the rate of Rs 4,000 per square feet or more which made housing in Patna dearer than other major cities in the country.

Keeping the high price of apartments in mind the state government has decided to build one lakh houses every year to be given to people of middle and lower income groups at affordable rates.

The minister also announced that the state would be made slum-free over the next couple of years and his department has undertaken construction of basic infrastructure and civic amenities like drinking water, road, drainage in 56 slums. The work will be completed by the next monsoon.

Altogether, 1,841 slums have been identified in Bihar where basic infrastructure and amenities would be laid down in the next couple of years to make the state slum-free, the minister told the House.

Earlier, the opposition members raised the issue of involvement of black money in the construction business in the state Assembly.