TV
Union Minister Bishweswar Tudu on Thursday slammed the Odisha government while alleging massive irregularities in execution of Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY) in the State.
Tudu alleged that BJD has resorted to favouritism and gifting ineligible party workers with PMAY houses in place of deserving beneficiaries to strengthen its vote bank amid elections to rural and urban local bodies.
The union minister also expressed his displeasure over the fact that the State government has remained mute spectator to the illegalities despite concerns from all around.
A Central team from the Rural Development Ministry had recently visited Odisha to investigate the alleged irregularities in the distribution of PMAY houses. Based on the findings of the team, Odisha government submitted a report to the Ministry on July 20, 2021. However, the Centre found the report to be unsatisfactory and has thus rejected it.
“The State government is rebranding various schemes of the Union government including PMAY and Jal Jeevan Mission as its own to divert the attention of the people from its failures,” alleged Tudu.
“Scams to the tune of crores of rupees have been committed in execution of PMAY in the State but the real beneficiaries have been deprived of its benefit. Prime Minister Narendra Modi had set a target to provide pucca houses to all eligible beneficiaries under the scheme by 2022. However, the target has so far remained out of sight due to the negligence of the State government,” rued the minister.
(Edited by Suryakant Jena)
