New Delhi: Expressing concern over delay in disbursement of funds under Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana Gramin (PMAY-G), BJD MP Amar Patnaik Friday said that the state is yet to receive Rs 818 crore as the first tranche under the scheme for construction of pucca houses in the state.
Speaking in the Rajya Sabha, during the Zero Hour, the BJD MP apprised the House about the vulnerability of Odisha to severe cyclonic storms in previous years.
He said that the severe cyclone Fani had wreaked havoc in the state and damaged a large number of houses in 14 districts of the state.
“The state government has moved to Ministry of Rural Development for sanction of special houses under PMAY-G in the first phase for poor. The state had put 12.75 lakh damaged/Kutcha houses in the Central government’s Awaas+app. We had made a request since Odisha is prone to cyclones let the rest of 14 districts also be covered under this formula of converting these kutcha houses to pucca houses so that eventually we will have permanent houses for all by 2024,” Patnaik said.
However, the Centre, he said, has not released the balance share of Rs 818 crore as first tranche under PMAY-G. He also said that arrear of Rs 202 crore under PMAY-G contingency fund has not been received since 2017-18.
“Our Chief Minister has made several requests to the Prime Minister for release of funds. I request the Union government to release these assistances as people are still living under houses which are not really pucca and there could be another storm,” Patnaik added.
