The State Assembly on Monday witnessed heated exchanges of words between the Opposition BJP and the ruling BJD over naming of rural housing projects on physical structures.
Raising the issue during the Zero Hour, Leader of Opposition Pradipta Naik severely criticised the State Government saying that houses constructed under the Prime Minister Awas Yojana (PMAY) are being named as the Biju Pucca Ghar Yojana, a State-scheme.
“The State Government has not allocated a single pie to provide houses under the Biju Pucca Ghar Yojana. It is disappointing that the State Government has named all houses constructed under the PMAY as BPGY houses,” resented Naik.
He urged the Speaker to give a ruling to resolve the issue at the earliest. Soon, other BJP members joined the LoP in demanding a ruling. At this time, Government Chief Whip Pramila Mallick raised a Point of Order to speak on the issue. The Speaker said that Treasury Bench members should also be allowed keep their views.
“While the State Government is providing 60 per cent share, the State Government is providing 40 per cent share and is employing administration for implementation of the PMAY. What is the problem in naming the projects as BPGY,” wanted to know Mallick. She also demanded that the houses constructed under the PMAY as BPGY.
BJD member Debi Prasad Mishra said BJP members should not be impatient by the move. “Till 2014, the Union Governments had been funding rural houses 100 per cent. After the BJP-led NDA Government came to the power in 2014, it slashed the Central share to 60 per cent. If the State Government will not bear 40 per cent of expenditure, the houses can’t be constructed. All should have patience,” he said.
The Leader of Opposition protested it again and said let there be written “Central share 60% and Stage share 40%” on the walls of the houses. The Re-1-a-kg Rice schemes should also bear “Rs 27:Rs2:Re1” as Central Government, State Government and beneficiary’s shares, respectively, he said.