G.O. (Ms.) No.158, Repair to Rural Houses 2024-25, Amendment to the Guidelines
The Government of Tamil Nadu, through the Rural Development and Panchayat Raj (SGS.1) Department, issued G.O. (Ms.) No.158 on 10 October 2024 to amend the payment documentation procedure under the Repairs to Rural Houses Scheme. The amendment replaces the requirement for a valuation certificate with an estimate and an item-wise record of completed repairs in the Measurement Book, counter-signed by the Assistant Engineer or Block Engineer.
What the amendment does
G.O. (Ms.) No.158 of the Rural Development and Panchayat Raj (SGS.1) Department, dated 10 October 2024, amends the execution guidelines attached to G.O. (Ms.) No.69, dated 15 March 2024. The change concerns the records that must be prepared and verified before payment is made for repairs to rural houses.
The earlier guideline required the overseer to inspect the repaired house, prepare a valuation certificate and obtain the counter-signature of the Assistant Engineer or Block Engineer for payment.
The amended procedure requires the overseer to:
- Inspect the house and prepare its estimate.
- Properly record each completed repair item in the Measurement Book.
- Obtain the counter-signature of the Assistant Engineer or Block Engineer for making payment.
Why the procedure was changed
The Rural Development and Panchayat Raj Department records that estimates for dilapidated houses vary according to the repair condition of each house. As a result, the estimate will not be the same for every repair, making a uniform valuation certificate unsuitable.
The Director of Rural Development and Panchayat Raj therefore requested that the guideline be amended in both English and Tamil. The Government examined and accepted that proposal.
Scheme covered
G.O. (Ms.) No.158 applies to the Repairs to Rural Houses Scheme for tiled-roof and sloped-roof houses in rural areas. The underlying programme received administrative sanction for repairs to 2,57,006 houses at an estimated cost of Rs. 1954.20 crore over 2024-2025 and 2025-2026.
For 2024-25, financial sanction had been issued to repair 1,48,637 houses at an estimated outlay of Rs. 1041.32 crore. Tentative district allocations covered minor and major repairs to tiled-roof and sloped-roof houses.
Who is affected
G.O. (Ms.) No.158 directly affects overseers, Assistant Engineers, Block Engineers and rural development authorities responsible for inspecting repairs, maintaining Measurement Books and authorising payments. Rural household beneficiaries may be affected through the documentation required before repair payments are processed. The amendment deals with scheme administration and repair records, rather than land ownership or title records.
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Common questions
Is a valuation certificate still required before payment for rural house repairs?
The amended guideline replaces the valuation certificate requirement. The overseer must prepare the house estimate and record the completed repair items in the Measurement Book.
Who must verify the repair records before payment?
The Assistant Engineer or Block Engineer must counter-sign the estimate and item-wise repair records prepared by the overseer for payment.
Why was the valuation certificate procedure changed?
The Government recorded that repair estimates differ depending on the condition of each dilapidated house. A uniform valuation certificate was therefore not suitable for all repair works.
Does G.O. (Ms.) No.158 apply to urban houses or land title records?
The document concerns repairs to tiled-roof and sloped-roof houses in rural areas. It contains no change to land ownership or title records.
