Odisha Govt expedites rural housing scheme

Ahead of the notification for the coming three-tire panchayat elections scheduled in February 2017, the Odisha government today asked the district collectors to release first instalment of houses to the rural people by December 18.
The direction in this regard was issued by chief secretary A P Padhi during a video conferencing with the district collectors. The state during the 2015-16 fiscal had met the national benchmark by completing 6 lakh units of rural housing project.
While taking stock of the progress in rural housing schemes, Padhi directed the collectors to disburse first instalment of all PMAY (Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana) houses to the beneficiaries' bank accounts within December 15 so that the current working season can be fully utilized for completion of the houses.

Collectors were also directed to expedite disbursement funds under Biju Pucca Ghar Yojana and Nirman Sramik Pucca Ghar Yojna within a week, an official statement said adding that Padhi also directed officials to complete all the incomplete houses by end of January, 2017.
Meanwhile, sanction the rural housing units under Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY), Biju Pucca Ghar Yojana (BPGY) and Nirman Sramik Pucca Ghar Yojana have been enhanced to Rs 1,30,000 and Rs 1,20,000 in IAP (integrated action plan) and Non-IAP districts respectively from this year.
Earlier, sanctioned amount per house unit was Rs 75,000 for IAP districts and Rs 70,000 for Non-IAP districts. "Since the sanction has been enhanced, the collectors must ensure maintenance of quality standards in construction of the houses," Padhi said after the meeting.

Panchayati Raj secretary DR Singh said that out of 6 lakh houses completed last year, around 4 lakh were completed by December 8, 2015. During the current year the revised guideline from Government of India was received on November 20 for which the many projects could not be started early.
As of now, 1.37 lakh houses have been completed. Apart from that, around 3.77 lakh houses have been taken up for construction during the current year. Padhi has directed the Panchayati Raj department and the collectors of all districts to complete these houses between March to May, 2017.