The BJP on Tuesday alleged that the State Cabinet’s decision to promulgate an Odisha Municipal Corporation Amendment Ordinance 2017 to provide land to the urban poor is no commitment of the State Government rather a cheap political attempt to dupe them.
“Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik has no interest to provide houses to the urban poor and is making announcements
Ordinance meant to dupe urban poor: BJP frequently only to sub-serve his own political interest,” said party general secretary Prithviraj Harichandan at a Press conference.
He said the State Government had brought the Odisha Property Rightss to Slum Dwellers and Prevention of New Slum Bill 2012 and promised houses to the urban poor ahead of the 2013 municipal elections. But it failed to provide houses to poor people in the urban areas till date. The concerned Minister has admitted that only 161 houses provided to poor people in two years.
He said similarly, the BJD failed to keep its promise made in its 2014 election manifesto that there would be no family without a pucca house. The Housing and Urban Development Department has, in a written reply in the Assembly, stated that landless poor living in urban areas are being provided houses under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana.
Harichandan said the Government has also not set any time limit for publication of beneficiaries’ list, land required for the purpose and completion of the house allotments in the Ordianance announced by the State Cabinet on Tuesday.
BJP State secretary Shishir Gamang, spokesperson Dillip Mohanty and Mahila Morcha State president Pravati Parida were present.