Irregularities In PMAY: Odisha BJP MPs Meet Union Rural Development Minister

Bhubaneswar: Alleging irregularities in allotment of funds under Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY), a delegation of BJP MPs from Odisha on Tuesday met Union Rural Development and Panchayati Raj Minister Narendra Singh Tomar. The BJP MP delegation sought Tomar's intervention on glaring inconsistencies and irregularities in the selection of beneficiaries of PMAY in the State and demanded an inquiry into allotment of housing funds to ineligible beneficiaries.

Senior BJP leaders alleged that Odisha government had admitted that out of 19 lakh pucca houses, 17 lakh pucca houses were constructed under PMAY with central government funds. The Centre sanctioned Rs 31,00 crore in 2017-18, Rs 3,600 crore in 2018-19 and Rs 4.820 crore in 2019-20 for rural housing in the State under PMAY. However, Odisha government has not made any budgetary provision in the last three financial years.

In a memorandum, the BJP delegation alleged that "Funds for houses under PMAY have been misappropriated with blatant favouritism and nepotism, depriving the eligible, needy, unserved and underserved people of Odisha of PM Modi's promise of having a roof over their shoulders."

"Houses have been allotted to ineligible beneficiaries and we have urged Union Minister to conduct a detailed probe into such irregularities," said Union Minister Pratap Sarangi.

I have also requested Shri @nstomar to ascertain the extent of deviation from the central guidelines in the preparation of #PMAY beneficiary list and prohibiting the state govt. from renaming any centrally sponsored scheme to make sure that the original scheme reaches the people. pic.twitter.com/sVVVc17QVQ

— Dharmendra Pradhan (@dpradhanbjp) February 11, 2020

The needy people of Odisha are being deprived of housing facilities, including those vulnerable to natural disasters.

The MPs have requested Shri @nstomar to institute an inquiry against the lack of scrupulousness and flagrant preferentialism in allotments of PMAY housing funds. pic.twitter.com/Yb3YZ8gTaU

— Dharmendra Pradhan (@dpradhanbjp) February 11, 2020

Meanwhile,  senior officials of Odisha government could not be contacted over BJP's allegations.