BJP Alleges Corruption In PM Awas Yojana In Odisha, Demands CBI Probe

Bhubaneswar: Alleging large scale corruption in Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY) in Odisha, opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Monday demanded CBI probe into the entire episode to expose those involved in irregularities.

Addressing a press meet in Bhubaneswar, state BJP general secretary Prithviraj Harichandan accused the ruling Biju Janata Dal (BJD) of enacting a new political drama instead of implementing the PMAY to hide its own inefficiency ahead of 2024 polls. Its aim is to mislead the people, he said.

Claiming that scores of eligible beneficiaries are waiting for over three years to get PMAY houses, he said the poor people are deprived of the benefit of the Central scheme in Odisha as the BJD government is not implementing it.

Though the state government was forced to install grievance boxes in all blocks and panchayats in February 2020 after BJP raised the issue of irregularities in the preparation of the list of beneficiaries in 2019, no action has been taken to address the grievances, he said.

The state government must give a clarification as to what action has been taken about the grievances, Harichandan said, adding that surveys were also conducted thrice by officials along with BJD leaders.

The BJP leader further alleged that BJD leaders are collecting money from people for allotting houses under the scheme. Therefore, the state government should order a CBI probe if it wants transparency, he said, adding that those looting the poor people’s money should be booked.

Claiming that several beneficiaries have been left out of the PMAY due to the inefficiency of the state government, Harichandan said the party is giving 30 days’ time to the government to take corrective measures. If the state government fails to do it, BJP will gherao each block office and hit the streets, the BJP leader added.