Bista questions 'anomalies' in PM housing scheme in N Bengal districts

SNS, SILIGURI, 22 DECEMBER 2022: Showcasing data related to allocation of central government funds meant for the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana-Urban (PMAYU), Darjeeling's BJP M P Raju Bista today alleged that the people of North Bengal, especially Kalimpong district, have been deprived of the government's scheme. 

"I am absolutely shocked to see that only three houses were allocated under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (Urban) in the district of Kalimpong in the year 2021, and no house was allocated in Kalimpong district so far in 2022-23," Mr Bista said in a release. 

According to him, he has requested Union Minister Giriraj Singh to initiate investigations by central agencies into the "instances of corruption" in the allocation of houses under the PMAY (Gramin) as well. "I have received many complaints front my constituents, especially from Phansidewa, about selective allocation of PMAY-G housing scheme to only Trinamool Congress supporters. 

In many instances, same family has been allocated multiple PMAY-U houses under different names," Mr Bista said. In the ongoing session of Parliament, Mr Bista had asked for details on the allocation made to all states under the PMAY-U since 2019. 

He also sought details of allocation for West Bengal, details of projects applied, approved and executed under the PMAY-U in the state and the d eta iLs of beneficiaries under the scheme in the districts of Darjeeling, Kalimpong and North Dinajpur since 2019. 

According to the MR in response to his queries, Union Minister of State for Housing and Urban Affairs Kaushal Kishore has stated that the central government has allocated over Rs 79605.1 crore so far since 2019 for PMAY(U) housing project across the country. For the state of West Bengal, the central government has allocated Rs 11 096.34 crore under the PMAY-U scheme in the same period. 

"Even though 10,408 houses have been allocated for Darjeeling district since 2019, only 3006 or around 29 percent have been completed. 

For Kalimpong district, out of 2277 houses allocated, only 302 houses or 13 percent have been completed. The figures for Uttar Dinajpur arc even more abysmal, where out of 13870 houses allocated, only 307, that is 2.2 percent, houses have been completed so far" Mr Bista, also the BJP national spokesperson, claimed. 

"In contrast, the completion rate of PMAY-U housing projects in South Bengal is very high. In Kolkata, the completion rate is 81.88 percent, while the Howrah completion rate is 50.04 percent," he added. 

"I hope this will act as an eye opener for the WB government and the respective district administrations. They cannot continue to keep the people from Darjeeling hills, Terai, Dooars and the rest of the state deprived this way," the MP said. 

He further said that since the PM AY is a demand driven scheme, less demand from the districts or the states will result in less allocation of funds. 

"While Labour poverty in our Darjeeling Hills, Terai, Siliguri and Dooars is very high, the West Bengal government and district administrations have literally dragged their feet in allocation of houses, resulting in the people from our region being forced to live in abysmal conditions," he said adding, "Delay in allocation, improper monitoring of the construction, and misallocation of houses to only pro-ruling party individuals has resulted in our region having to suffer from deprivation and discrimination."