Addressing a news conference here on Sunday, GHB chairman Praful Barot said that beginning from Monday, the incentive scheme would remain in force till three months and it would cover 85,000 ``beneficiaries'' who will be required to pay interest equivalent to what is charged by Housing & Urban Development Corporation (HUDCO) on the outstanding installments. Houses of defaulters would not be sealed during these three months, had announced.

This means that the board will have to waive a penalty amounting to Rs 53 crore and installment dues of Rs seven crore. Together it comes to Rs 60 crore which will leave the recoverable amount slashed to Rs 111 crore. Barot said the Board had, after serious consideration, decided that all those whose repayment period was over and if they pay their amount as on August 1998, shall become house owners and get the same registered.

According to the latest incentive package, twenty per cent of the total outstanding installments will have to be paid and after considering the relief on penalty, the remaining amount shall be payable either at one stroke or in sixteen equal monthly installments on which HUDCO rates would apply. This would have to be paid apart from the regular installments, he clarified. Apart from regular tenants, power of attorney holders would also be covered under the incentive scheme. They will have to pay penalty for unauthorised occupancy and transfer fee for joining the incentive scheme, he said.

When asked about the litigation going on over the land for Gota township scheme, he said the issue would be settled and their was not major problem in that.

About other plans of the Board, the chairman said the Board had decided to allot houses in the beginning of construction and allow the allottees to supervise the work and make changes in the specifications as per individual needs. Besides, the Board has also decided to dispose of pending cases at the earliest by setting a time limit for each case. There are 47,000 cases pending with the Board at various stages.

Barot said that with a view to increasing speed at work place, the Board has set deadline of two days for movement of file at officers' table and delay would attract disciplinary action against them. The Board has circle offices at Rajkot, Vadodara and Ahmedabad where it has decided to vest more powers and computerise their working to achieve decentralisation.

About the housing finance needs, the Board will enter a tripartite agreement with banks who shall extend credit on the basis of GHB allotment letter at a convenient rate of interest, he said.

The Board will spend Rs 78.34 crore to build 37,200 houses during 1999-2000. Of these, 20,175 will be for weaker sections, 6,999 for low income groups, 5,699 for middle income groups and 4,324 for higher income group.