Bihar Government Admits Major Delay in PMAY-G Housing Construction
The Bihar state government has publicly acknowledged a significant setback in the implementation of the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana-Gramin (PMAY-G), with the construction of approximately 9.16 lakh housing units being delayed. This admission came during the Question Hour on the seventh day of the budget session in Patna, where rural development minister Shrawan Kumar addressed queries from JD(U) MLA Manjit Singh.
Failure to Establish Single Nodal Account on Time
Minister Shrawan Kumar revealed that the primary cause of the delay was the government's inability to establish a Single Nodal Account (SNA) within the stipulated timeframe. The SNA is a crucial reform introduced in 2021 to streamline the release, disbursement, and monitoring of funds for centrally sponsored schemes (CSS). Initially, the deadline for creating this account was set for January 31, but the state failed to meet this target.
"We have urged the Centre to release Rs 3,000 crore, which we can distribute to the beneficiaries without SNA," the minister stated, highlighting the urgency of the situation. He informed the House that the state government is now in the process of creating its own SNA at the earliest and has requested an extension from the central government until March 31 to complete this task.
Financial Releases and Beneficiary Status
Despite the delay, some progress has been made. The minister reported that the Centre released Rs 91 crore in January, which was distributed among PMAY-G beneficiaries without the SNA. Overall, the state government has received approval to release funds for the construction of more than 12.08 lakh pucca houses under the PMAY-G scheme.
So far, the first instalment has been provided to 11.35 lakh beneficiaries. However, around 72,492 beneficiaries are still awaiting payment of the first tranche, and approximately 9.16 lakh houses remain to be completed in the state under PMAY-G.
Other Rural Development Matters Discussed
The session also covered other issues related to rural development in Bihar. In response to a question from Rashtriya Lok Morcha (RLM) MLA Snehlata regarding dress and identity cards for Jeevika didis, Minister Shrawan clarified that community organisations are responsible for issuing these cards and providing the dress code.
On the status of tubewells in panchayats, minister Santosh Suman disclosed that there are 3,304 defunct tube wells, with an amount of Rs 75.23 lakh allocated for the repair of 2,477 of them.
Additionally, BJP MLA Jibesh Kumar raised a demand for increasing compensation to Rs 10 lakh for mukhiyas and three-tier panchayat representatives who die in road accidents. Panchayati raj department minister Deepak Prakash assured that this demand would be considered.
The admissions and discussions underscore ongoing challenges in rural infrastructure and welfare schemes in Bihar, with the PMAY-G delay being a focal point of concern for housing beneficiaries across the state.
