Despite an order issued by district Collector Aboli Narvane, the Block Development Officer (BDO), Binka, has not taken action in a case pertaining to giving a false inquiry report to the Chief Development Officer- cum- Executive Officer, Zilla Parisad, Subarnapur, on the matter of irregularities in the allotment of Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY-Gramin).
The Collector previously recommended a draft charge against Binka ABDO Pragnya Panigrahi, PA Dwitikrushna Panda and Executive Officer of Charda gram panchayat Mitanjali Ratha in November. The Chief Development Officer cum Executive Officer, Zilla Parisad, has also given a letter to the Binka BDO to take action against these officers and to recover the amount from the beneficiaries. But although more than two months have passed, no action has been taken against these officers.
As per sources, Brundaban Mishra, a youth of Phulamuthi village, had filed a written complaint about irregularities in the PMAY with the Lokayukta in August 2022. The Lokayukta issued notices on November 16 to the Binika BDO and two PMAY beneficiaries named Narsingh Mishra and Hadu Charan Mishra of Phulamuthi village to submit their replies within six weeks. The next hearing of the case will be held on December 27.
It was alleged that some Government officials working in the Panchayati Raj Department are involved in the PMAY scam. Sources said many rich and affluent persons have been allotted the PMAY housing units in 2020-21 fiscal without fulfilling the eligibility.
On the contrary, scores of poor people eligible to get houses have been deprived of their benefits. Brundaban had written several times to the Subarnapur Collector and the Vigilance Department about the PMAY irregularities in Phulamuthi village. However, officials at the block level suppressed the matter.
Later, Brundaban wrote to the RDC Northern range in Sambalpur regarding the irregularities. The RDC had directed district Collector Narvane to conduct a probe. Sonepur BDO Soumyaranjan Swain, Binika Tehsildar Mukteswar Panigrahi and DRDA APD Alok Rasmi Mishra looked into the matter and found irregularities in the PMAY.
In the report, they stated that people named Narsingha Mishra and Hadu Charan Mishra who are not eligible had been allotted houses under the PMAY in violation of the guidelines. One of the beneficiaries has a pucca house while another draws a monthly pension of Rs 10,000. But the inquiry team has not written anything on another beneficiary named Ugrasen Mishra.
Meanwhile, petitioner Brundabana has again met the RDC Northern range in Sambalpur for this irregularity in PMAY-Gramin and no action was taken by the BDO against the respective officers. When contacted, BDO Byasadeb Behera did not receive phone calls despite several attempts.
