Bhubaneswar: In view of the state government’s order to Vigilance department to vigorously investigate the dubious practice of percentage (PC) culture in rural housing schemes, the general progress of the scheme has slowed down.
In the wake of reported excess vigilantism by the department, the officials working in panchayat and block levels have been “unnerved,” leading to delays in carrying out the developmental works.
Rayagada district which earned accolades from the Centre for constructing a record number of houses last year, has completed only 248 houses against a total target of 949 houses until July 22, while 701 housing units remain to be completed. The achievement is only 26.13 per cent against the target. 
Official sources in Rayagada district have indicated that no progress has been made in the past 30 days on implementation of rural housing schemes. The fear of ‘‘meticulous vigilantism’’ by the Vigilance Department sleuths has not only affected Rayagada district, it has also afflicted officials in other districts.
The fear psychosis over excess ‘vigilance’ in all levels of construction works has unnerved the field-level officials at block and panchayat levels who are reluctant to execute rural housing schemes like Biju Pucca Ghar Yojna (BPGY), Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY) and Indira Awas Yojna (IAY).
The Vigilance officials, on the other hand, are doing their job. They are investigating into the financial irregularities and also probing the technical details to the chagrin of field-level officials, said the sources.
“There is no problem if the vigilance department takes action against people involved in financial irregularities or bribery. But, they are verifying whether the beneficiary has built a two bed-room house or three, whether the plinth area is exactly (25 sq metres) as per stipulation,” said a senior official of panchayati raj (PR) department.
Biswabhusan Mohapatra, OP
