During an hour-long stormy debate over the issue, the Congress members sought to put the Telugu Desam Government on the mat by citing several instances of irregularities in identification of beneficiaries under the programme and violation of guidelines in allotment of houses. Raising the issue under Rule 304, M V Mysoora Reddy (Congress) alleged that the welfare scheme had become a money spinning venture for some ruling party functionaries and quoted instances where ineligible persons were given houses and rule of reservation was given a go-by.

Congress floor leader Y S Rajasekhar Reddy, along with his party colleagues, demanded an inquiry by House Committee to ferret out facts and suspension of the process of identifying beneficiaries underthe scheme till new policy and guidelines were formulated.

Rejecting the Opposition demand for a House Committee probe, Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu assured that the scheme would be kept pending till new guidelines were finalised. He also assured the agitated Opposition members that a thorough inquiry would be done in case of specific instances and action would be taken against the guilty. Not satisfied with the reply, the Congress members trooped out of the House protesting against `gross misuse of scheme by ruling party leaders and systematic attempt by their henchmen to rob weaker sections of the benefits under the programme'.

The Chief Minister said AP stood first in the country in providing pucca houses to weaker sections. Out of one crore houses built across country so far, the State alone accounted for 35.25 lakh houses. Of them, 15 lakh were constructed during the last four years, Naidu said adding that Rs 874 crore were spent for the scheme last year.

Referring to Congress members'criticism over misuse of discretionary powers by ruling party MLAs and ministers who are allotted a specific quota of houses, Naidu said the quota system was introduced during the previous Congress regime.

Seeking suggestions from members to ensure fool-proof implementation of the scheme, Naidu asserted that his government would not spare anybody in the event of irregularities.

Earlier, Mysoora Reddy (Congress), citing instances of violations of guidelines, reservation rules and favouritism, said over 1,500 houses were given to Parthasarathy Reddy, who is now a TDP MLA from Kurnool district, in violation of norms. While in Vizianagaram district, 1,600 houses were allotted to a ruling party MLA and 500 houses to a Rajya Sabha member, he alleged.