Kendrapara: Two people here who got work orders to construct houses under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY) are spending sleepless nights as they had started constructing houses, but have not got the money, thanks to careless municipal officials.
Sources said Akshaya Malik, a Dalit, and a resident of Belatala in Ward No-20 of Pattamundai municipality, got work order (No: 3238) last September under the PMAY to construct a house.
He started construction and completed work up to the plinth level. But he has not got the money due to him from the Pattamundai municipal authority. Akshaya is now worried as the moneylender from whom he had borrowed is demanding payback.
“I approached the Pattamundai municipality executive officer and also brought the matter to the attention of the Collector, but have not got the money,” Akshaya said.
“I had given my correct bank account number. When I approached the Pattamundai municipality executive officer he said that due to an error my money went to an accountholder in Bihar and asked me to approach the bank. He assured me that within one and a half months I would get the money. When I went to the bank I was told the money was deposited in the account of a person in Bihar. The money due to me was deposited in the wrong account due to the negligence of municipal staff,” Akshaya said.
“My family is now living under polythene sheets as I started constructing the house after demolishing our thatched house,” said Akshaya.
The story of Baisnab Malik, another Dalit resident of the village, is no different. He got the Awas Yojana work order (No: 2202) September 20, 2018. But although he constructed his house up to plinth level the money has not come to his account.
The people from whom he had borrowed money three months back have started demanding it back. “I am now worried about how to clear my debts,” said Baisnab.
“It is not my fault. I provided the correct account number, but due to their error the money went to an accountholder in Bihar,” said Baisnab.
Municipality executive officer Sampad Kumar Swain said the error occurred due to a mistake regarding the bank branch’s IFSC code.
“We have been trying to solve the problem at the district-level. I have already discussed the matter with the PD, DRDA and the Collector to solve the problem and disburse the money due to the two,” Swain said.
PNN
