BJP slams Odisha govt over PMAY scheme, 'deaths due to house collapse'

Odisha BJP President Samir Mohanty on Thursday targeted the Odisha government for its alleged failure in providing houses to genuine beneficiaries under the Pradhan Mantri Awaas Yojana-Gramin (PMAY-G).

Addressing the media at a presser, Mohanty said, “I have a serious question for the Naveen-led government. Were the people who lost their lives due to wall collapse (during the floods in the State) not eligible beneficiaries? Why were they not given a ‘pucca’ house under PMAY-G?”

Mohanty alleged that at least six people lost their lives due to wall collapse in Mayurbhanj district and accused the State government of trying to suppress the matter. A woman died in the wall collapse, her father is also critical and currently undergoing treatment at Udala government hospital. Luckily, two minor children a four-month-old baby survived, he said. 

He further said, “Even after such tragic deaths, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik claimed that there were zero casualties. Even the media reported that there were no deaths due to wall collapse. The Chief Minister himself visited Mayurbhanj district on August 12. Even, our country got the first tribal President Draupadi Murmu from Mayurbhanj district. But, till today, people live a life of neglect and deprivation in the region.”

“Odisha has been provided with 8.17 lakh houses under PMAY-G by the Centre. However, the Naveen-led government has miserably failed to provide houses to the eligible beneficiaries that led to the deaths in wall collapse,” alleged Mohanty.

Recently, Mohanty visited the flood-hit regions in Mayurbhanj district and took a stock of the situation. He assured all kinds of help to the people and directed his party workers to distribute relief and provide assistance to the people in need.