Tura MDC Bernard Marak has questioned what he called the shoddy implementation of the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY) scheme in the urban areas of Tura while also pointing to contractors aligned with political parties forcefully implementing the scheme in rural Garo Hills.
In a statement this evening, the BJP MDC alleged that instead of poor families being given the scheme to build houses, it was the rich and powerful who were availing the scheme in the urban belt of Tura.
“The scheme is not being implemented sincerely by the state government. People had high hopes on the promises made by our PM, Narendra Modi, that there should not be kutcha houses but pucca houses through the scheme for the poor. In our state, it is the rich and powerful who are playing politics and availing the scheme,” alleged Bernard.
The BJP MDC further alleged that the state government had delayed the scheme under PMAY (Urban) despite the centre releasing crores towards the scheme itself. According to him the scheme was a non-starter due to the government’s negligence and bad policies over centrally sponsored schemes.
“In Tura, around 1,299 women applied for PMAY (U) in 2016. The Centre approved three beneficiaries in 2017-18, 566 beneficiaries in 2018-19 and another 50 in 2019-20, totalling to 619 in the urban area itself. The total amount sanctioned for Tura alone is Rs 9,28,50,000,” he claimed.
However, none of the beneficiaries were contacted until the matter was raised by him.
“The beneficiaries were kept in the dark with no official information by the concerned departments. The municipality denied implementing the PMAY scheme and blamed MUDA. After taking up the matter with MUDA, now the beneficiaries were communicated by some ground workers and have been asked to erect the RCC posts for the house which most of the beneficiaries still cannot afford as the expenses are too high and most beneficiaries are very poor. The state government intentionally delayed this scheme to deprive the poor and most probably the government will fail in implementing this scheme in the state,” Bernard asserted.
Moreover, commenting on the situation in the rural areas, Bernard claimed that the scheme was being implemented through contractors that are aligned with the ruling political coalition in the state.
“The money meant for beneficiaries are all handled by the contractors who do not do the work well and are adamant because they are mostly from political parties. We are gathering all reports from different areas and this will be sent to the PM’s office,” he added.
