Reporter’s Diary: Rules bend for housing at SAF Village, raise eyebrows

The Village, constructed to accommodate athletes and officials from other countries for the South Asian Games in 1995, later became the official quarters complex for the senior government officials. Home to high and mighty among officials, the Village saw some openings only recently after some officials moved to their own apartments in nearby Natesan Nagar. However, allotment of one of these apartments to an officer in the rank of an Additional Superintendent of Police attached to the Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption has brought the sprawling apartment complex under the spotlight. Sources said the officer who received the A1 quarters — usually meant only for IAS officers — has conducted a primary enquiry into corruption charges against some ministers a few months ago. A private contractor carried out renovation works on the said apartment against the usual practice of the engineering division of TNHB doing such works. Government sources, however, claim this is not the first time police officers are getting apartments in the SAF Village, and that many DROs and police officers are already part of the Village. An official also argued that at least 10 houses are lying vacant in the Village after the occupants shifted to their own apartments and that there are not many claimants for these apartments. He, however, didn’t get into the question of whether the government has any new criteria in place in allocating quarters meant for IAS officers to Group-1 officers. A clear picture is likely to emerge in the coming days.