Jajpur/Binjharpur: Houses under state sponsored housing scheme Biju Pucca Ghar (special) Yojana(BPGY) were allegedly doled out to affluent persons in villages under Binjharpur block by violating guidelines and in alleged exchange of hefty bribe, a report said Tuesday.
Thanks to the apathy of government officials at various levels, houses have been sanctioned in the names of affluent persons at the insistence of political leaders depriving actual beneficiaries. Most of the beneficiaries work as traders and contractors and have spent over Rs 40-50,000 to get a house sanctioned in their names.
Over 42 people have received houses under BPGY scheme out of 75 houses allotted for Binjharpur block. The remaining 33 houses are awaiting approvals of the District Collector. It was alleged that all 26 beneficiaries receiving houses under the scheme in Binjharpur panchayat in 2017-18 financial year were ineligible. They have been sanctioned Rs 1.30 lakh and Rs 20,000 more under MGNREGS for construction of houses
Moreover, lack of exemplary action has emboldened the wrongdoers to do it with impunity. The incident comes close on the heels of a similar scam where houses under Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY) were distributed to bogus beneficiaries.
Sources said little money was sanctioned under PMAY to the state government. The state government instead of sanctioning fund under BPGY scheme launched a Biju Pucca Ghar (special) Yojana under which 75 houses were allotted for construction under every Assembly segment. The scheme envisages construction of pucca houses for persons affected by natural calamities like cyclone, flood and earthquakes as well as communal riots and houses of persons destroyed in elephant attacks.
The state government in its letter-10062 issued a new guideline June 5, 2017 for selection of beneficiaries and sanction of funds for construction of houses under the scheme. A committee chaired by the Collector and comprising the local MP, MLAs, Zilla Parishad, chairperson , DRDA, PD and BDO was formed in every district to identify the beneficiaries.
However, in Binjharpur block without any incidence of natural calamities or communal riots the committee headed by the Collector selected affluent people for houses under the scheme. The committee claimed these beneficiaries were poor and sanctioned houses in their names. The beneficiaries were actually rich if a house constructed under the scheme near the power grid at Rudrapur on Jajpur-Singhpur road is taken into account.
This house is a two-storied building where a computer institute runs from the premises. Some government officials and other persons have been living in the house on rent. The house even functioned as a store room for storing rice for midday meal scheme.
When contacted, Binjharpur BDO Damodar Khuntia said a probe is on to ascertain the veracity of the claims. The probe report will be submitted to the collector for action at his end. PNN
