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Bhubaneswar: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Wednesday launched a blistering attack on the Odisha government alleging massive irregularities in the implementation of Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY) in the State.
Addressing a press conference, general secretary of the State BJP unit, Prithviraj Harichandan said that the central housing scheme is mired in corruption in the State. Instead of eligible beneficiaries, BJD leaders are availing the benefits of the scheme (getting houses under PMAY), alleged Harichandan.
"The State government had received PMAY applications from people between February 7 and 22. However, even after almost 10 months, the applications are still lying unattended at block offices," he stated.
The BJP leader further said that the Centre is contributing towards PMAY and the State's work is to ensure eligible beneficiaries avail its benefits. However, the Odisha government is using the Biju Pucca Ghar logo on houses constructed under the central housing scheme, he alleged.
"If the Naveen government does not stop hijacking the central government scheme, the BJP will stage protests in front of block offices and police stations on December 28 and 29, respectively," he said while tearing up a letter of the State government on the scheme at the presser.
Though comments of the BJD leaders could not be obtained over the allegations, the ruling party had earlier stated that there is nothing wrong in using the logo as the State’s share in the housing scheme is around 51 to 56 per cent.
On the other hand, Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik recently urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to provide shelter to all eligible households in the State under PMAY.
In a letter to PM Narendra Modi, Patnaik demanded 7.87 lakh pucca houses in 14 districts which were hit by the extremely severe cyclone ‘Fani’ in May 2019.
