696 beneficiaries in Fani-hit districts ‘ineligible’ 

By Express News Service

BHUBANESWAR:  The Centre on Tuesday knowledgeable Lok Sabha that the Odisha authorities has submitted the Action Taken Report (ATR) on the findings of the Central staff that performed an inquiry into alleged irregularities in implementation of the agricultural housing scheme underneath Pradhan Mantri Awaas Yojana – Gramin (PMAY-G).

“The ATR of the State is being examined and suitable action would be taken after approval of the competent authority,” mentioned Union Minister of State for Rural Development Sadhvi Niranjan Jyoti.

In a written reply to queries from Congress MP from Kerala Suresh Kodikunnil, the Union Minister mentioned the Odisha authorities in its July 20 ATR to the Ministry of Rural Development (MoRD) admitted that 696 out of 775 households of the cyclone Fani-affected districts of the State had been discovered to be not eligible to get housing help underneath PMAY-G.

The remaining 76 in Awaas+ record had been discovered eligible and their registration, geo-tagging and Aadhaar seeding have been accomplished. Dismissing BJP allegation that Odisha authorities will not be making budgetary provision underneath PMAY-G, the ATR mentioned there isn’t a pendency in drawal of matching State share because it has all the time made enough budgetary provision.

On allegation that BJD authorities is hijacking the Centrally sponsored scheme by renaming it as a State scheme, the ATR mentioned, “No such attempt has ever been made. The State government has decided to co-brand the PMAY-G houses by affixing logos of both PMAY-G and BPGY as it is investing 40 per cent as matching share.”

The Union Minister mentioned the foremost findings of the Central staff which visited the State in February embrace lack of PMAY-G emblem, poor high quality of development, incomplete homes proven as accomplished in MIS and homes sanctioned to ineligible beneficiaries. Earlier, in a illustration to Union RD Minister Narendra Singh Tomar, 9 BJP MPs from Odisha whereas alleging irregularities in distribution of PMAY help sanctioned for 3.89 lakh homes broken by Fani, had shared an inventory of 831 ineligible beneficiaries.