Kaptipada: Amid allegations of large-scale irregularities in rural housing in Kaptipada block of Mayurbhanj district, the administration found in records incomplete and even non-existent houses shown completed. More surprisingly, dead persons were projected as beneficiaries while their housing funds were embezzled, a report said.
Housing bills of beneficiaries were cleared and their photocopies uploaded on the website. While beneficiaries are unaware of their bill clearance, many seek to know how incomplete houses were recorded as completed. In one case, housing fund was sanctioned to a dead person.
Locals pointed out a big scam in the rural housing schemes in Badakhaladi panchayat that took place between 2013-14 and 2016-17.
It was alleged that houses of many beneficiaries had remained incomplete, but their funds were misappropriated by local politicians and contractors. In most cases, bribes were paid by beneficiaries to avail of houses during disbursal of work orders.
In this panchayat, no one ever served in the Army, but nine persons were shown in official records as martyrs and housing units were sanctioned in the names of their widows.
The panchayat was sanctioned 121 housing units under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana and the Biju Pucca Ghar Yojana in 2016-17. As per guidelines, only those whose names are in SECC report of the panchayat are eligible to get housing units. About 36 persons were not in the list, but got houses, it was alleged.
Mani Majahi of Mahisasuri village and Surya Majhi of Badakhaladi had been sanctioned housing units under IAY (each unit Rs 75,000). They were provided Rs 15,000 as first installment. Mani has not built her house while Surya’s house is built up to the wall level. Their whole funds have been misappropriated and houses were shown as completed.
Official data show that Harmanai Nayak of Phulabadi was provided a house, she lives in her thatched shanty and has no idea about having got a house. Besides, Kanda Hembram of Badakhaladi has got an IAY house by paying Rs 17,000 to officials.
Thakura Hembram, Pitambar Nayak, Dulari Murmu, Dalimani Sankhua, Biswanath Hembram,(all from Badakhaladi), Ramchandra Majhi (Mahisasuri), Rasananada Khadei, Kuni Nayak, Babu Nayak and Upendra Khandei(all from Nachhiur) have not been able to complete their houses while their funds were misappropriated without their knowledge and photos of ‘completed houses’ uploaded in the official website.
Social activist Raj Kishore had drawn the attention of Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik toward the scam thorough the Chief Minister’s Grievances Cell. He has also intimated the panchayati raj minister and the secretary, Vigilance DG, district collector and SP for a probe. He warned of moving to court, if no investigation is carried out.
BDO Yudhisthir Nayak said he is aware of the complaint, but irregularities will be known after an investigation. PNN
