Deputy CM cites government figures to counter former CM Bhupesh Baghel’s allegations over housing under PM Awas Yojana
Raipur: The political battle over the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana-Gramin (PMAY-G) has intensified in Chhattisgarh, with Deputy Chief Minister and Panchayat & Rural Development Minister Vijay Sharma hitting back at former Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel over allegations concerning the implementation of the housing scheme.
Sharma accused Baghel of creating confusion over housing figures and said the state government was ready to discuss the issue on any platform.
According to Sharma, he had mentioned in a letter to Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai that 10.60 lakh houses had been completed, while the total number of PMAY-G houses completed during the present government’s tenure, including houses sanctioned in earlier and newer financial years, has crossed 11 lakh.
Political Battle Over PM Awas Yojana
The BJP and Congress have stepped up their war of words over the implementation of PMAY-G in the state.
Sharma alleged that Baghel had misrepresented the figures related to completed houses. He said the government was prepared to present the facts and figures before the public and challenged the former chief minister to debate the issue on any platform.
The Deputy Chief Minister maintained that housing figures should not be assessed by looking at only one financial year or a single list, as many houses sanctioned during previous financial years had remained incomplete and were subsequently completed under the current government.
Sharma Refers to Brijmohan Agrawal’s Question in Parliament
Sharma also referred to a question raised in Parliament by Chhattisgarh MP Brijmohan Agrawal regarding construction under the PM Awas scheme.
Citing figures provided by the Centre, Sharma said the data supported the state government’s claims regarding the progress of housing construction.
He said houses sanctioned during earlier financial years and those that remained pending have also been included in the government’s efforts to complete housing projects.
18 Lakh-Plus Houses Targeted After First Cabinet Meeting
Sharma said that soon after the BJP government assumed office, the first Cabinet meeting resolved to provide more than 18 lakh PM Awas houses to eligible families in the state.
According to him, the government subsequently released funds for houses sanctioned during both previous and current financial years and accelerated construction of pending units.
More Than 11 Lakh Houses Completed in About Two-and-a-Half Years
Highlighting the government’s achievements, Sharma claimed that more than 11 lakh PMAY-G houses have been completed since the formation of the present government.
He clarified that the figure includes not only newly sanctioned houses but also houses that had been sanctioned during previous financial years but remained incomplete.
The government, he said, has focused on completing old pending houses while simultaneously taking forward construction of newly sanctioned units.
5.92 Lakh Houses Completed in Previous Financial Year
Sharma further claimed that more than 5.92 lakh houses were completed in Chhattisgarh during the previous financial year, describing it as the highest number of houses completed in the country during the period.
The state government says continuous departmental monitoring is being carried out to maintain the pace of construction and ensure that eligible beneficiaries receive permanent homes at the earliest.
Government Cites 2011 and 2018 Eligibility Lists
The Deputy Chief Minister said houses found eligible under the 2011 and 2018 beneficiary lists have been sanctioned.
According to figures cited by Sharma, a total of around 20.40 lakh houses have been completed, while approximately 4 lakh houses are currently under construction.
He said the government’s objective is not merely to sanction houses but to ensure that construction is completed and poor families actually receive permanent housing.
Chief Minister Housing Scheme and PM-JANMAN Also Included
Sharma also explained that the government’s housing achievements include houses being constructed under different schemes.
These include:
- Around 48,000 houses sanctioned under the Chief Minister Housing Scheme, of which nearly 20,000 have been completed.
- Around 23,000 houses under the PM-JANMAN scheme.
- Houses sanctioned under various special projects.
According to the government, these schemes are particularly focused on providing permanent homes to poor, vulnerable and disadvantaged families.
Sharma Questions Previous Congress Government
The Deputy Chief Minister also criticised the previous Bhupesh Baghel-led Congress government.
He alleged that if adequate work had been done at that time instead of creating confusion over the scheme, many poor families would not have been deprived of housing benefits.
Sharma also referred to a letter reportedly written by then minister TS Singh Deo to the former chief minister regarding PM Awas and cited correspondence involving departmental officials and Union ministers.
He said the facts surrounding PMAY-G and PM-JANMAN housing should be discussed publicly.
‘Bhupesh Baghel Runs Away From Debate,’ Says Sharma
Taking a political swipe at the former chief minister, Sharma alleged that Baghel avoids debates when confronted with issues requiring detailed discussion.
He compared Baghel’s alleged approach to that of Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and said he was ready to debate the PM Awas issue with the former chief minister on any platform.
Congress Targeted Over Naxalism
Sharma also attacked the Congress over the issue of Naxalism.
He alleged that although the Congress had spoken about formulating a policy on Naxalism in 2023, concrete action against the problem was lacking during its tenure.
Drawing a parallel between the two issues, Sharma said questions were being raised over both the previous government’s approach to Naxalism and its handling of PM Awas Yojana.
He also referred to PM Awas approvals made in September 2023 while questioning decisions taken during the previous government.
Government Says Focus Remains on Permanent Housing
Sharma said Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s objective is to ensure that every poor family in the country gets a permanent home, and the Chhattisgarh government is working towards achieving that goal.
According to the state government, efforts are continuing to complete old pending houses while construction of newly sanctioned homes is also progressing.
With around 4 lakh houses reportedly under construction, the government says its focus remains on accelerating construction and ensuring that eligible families ultimately receive a permanent roof over their heads.
