BJP MLAs alleges corruption in PMAY, minister assures action

Patna: Ruling party MLAs alleged large-scale corruption in the PM Awas Yojana (PMAY) in the state. Raising the issue during the Question Hour in the legislative assembly on Wednesday, BJP MLAs Baidyanath Prasad and Sunil Kumar levelled serious allegations of bribery from the beneficiaries and irregularities in the survey conducted by the state govt.Rural development minister Shrawan Kumar, however, claimed that the process was transparent, but if any complaints of irregularities were received, action would be taken.Riga MLA Baidyanath Prasad alleged massive irregularities in the selection of beneficiaries while Biharsharif MLA Sunil Kumar, citing the example of Rahui block, said the beneficiaries whose housing funds have already been credited to their accounts are being charged up to 25% of the amount as bribe.BJP MLA Nitish Mishra also said the truly needy were not receiving the benefits of the scheme while Mithilesh Tiwari alleged that bribes of up to Rs20,000 were being directly extorted from the housing beneficiaries.Responding to the allegations, minister Shrawan said the MLAs should inform the authorities. “Strict action will be taken against those found guilty,” he said as the House witnessed a prolonged uproar and heated debate on the issue.

Nitish Mishra said the survey conducted across the state produced two lists. There are complaints from many quarters about transparency in the compilation of the housing scheme’s beneficiaries.BJP MLA Pramod Kumar said the survey for the PMAY was rigged. In many places, influential people had lists prepared according to their own preferences, he alleged.Govt plans to develop Shiva Circuit: In response to the calling attention motion by several NDA MLAs, road construction minister Dilip Kumar Jaiswal said the govt, will develop a “Shiva Circuit” in the state, connecting cities with major Shiva temples with better roads and infrastructure.

The proposal aims at connecting Simariya Dham in Begusarai, Baiju Dham, Hariharnath, Garibnath, Khageshwarnath and Someshwar Mahadev at Areraj among other Shiva temples in the state.

Speaker Prem Kumar said he will convene a meeting in this regard soon.Jaiswal said the state govt will send the proposal to the Centre for funds. He requested the members to provide a list of key temples in their constituencies to facilitate the planning process.Extension of Ganga Path: Several MLAs demanded the extension of the Ganga Path from Koilwar to Buxar. Minister Jaiswal said this is the dream project of CM Nitish Kumar. He said the Ganga Path is being extended from Munger to Sabour, Koilwar and Bidupur. “The govt’s plan is to extend the Ganga Path from Buxar to Farakka. The Nitish Kumar govt is working towards this end,” he said.Intervening in the matter, parliamentary affairs minister Vijay Kumar Choudhary requested everyone not to call Ganga Path as ‘Marine Drive’. “Now, even people in Mumbai are demanding that their Marine Drive be made like Patna’s Ganga Path. Its attractiveness is now more appealing than that of the Marine Drive,” he said.