BHUBANESWAR: Even as the State Government has set a target to complete 93,234 houses under Biju Pucca Ghar Yojana (BPGY) during 2015-16, first instalment of funds has been released for only 5,548 beneficiaries raising doubts about completion of houses in time.
Out of the target set for completion of 93,234 houses, the State Government has so far given approval for 54,184 houses. The BPGY is an election promise of the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) as per which all kutcha houses will be converted to pucca houses within a period of five years.
Similarly, implementation of Indira Awas Yojana (IAY) has fallen way behind the target. Out of the target set for construction of 1.65 lakh houses under IAY in 2015-16, only 1.11 lakh have been approved by the Panchayati Raj Department.
Minister of State for Panchayati Raj Arun Sahu, who reviewed the implementation of the housing projects at a conference of all the project directors of district rural development agencies (DRDAs), said the Government will be able to reach the target during 2015-16. He claimed that 1,700 houses are being completed under different schemes at present and efforts are being made to increase the number.
The Minister said beneficiaries under BPGY scheme will be selected through lottery and asked the officials to make people aware of it. He said the Government has decided to pay incentive of Rs 10,000 to beneficiaries who complete construction of their respective houses within four months.
Expenditure under the Cement Concrete Road (CCR) has also improved during 2015-16, the Minister said and added that out of Rs 274.6 crore available for the scheme during the year, Rs 88.18 crore have already been spent. Similarly, expenditure in Rajiv Gandhi Panchayat Sashaktikaran Yojana (RGPSY) has so far been Rs 4.08 crore out of the availability of Rs 33.82 crore, the Minister said.
Housing Plan
■ Out of the target to complete 93,234 houses, Govt has so far given approval for 54,184 houses
■ BPGY is an election promise of BJD under which all kutcha houses will be converted to pucca houses within 5 yrs
Sahu said he has asked officials to make proper utilisation of funds sanctioned by the Fourteenth Finance Commission and Fourth State Finance Commission for panchayati raj institutions by conforming to the guidelines.