Odisha builds 14.5 lakh houses since 2014-15 fiscal

Odisha government has been able to complete construction of a total of 14,50,294 houses in rural areas under various housing schemes since 2014-15 fiscal, officials said today.
The houses built so far include 13,226 houses under Biju Pucca Ghar and Biju Pucca Ghar (mining areas), 2,392 houses under the Niraman Shramika Pucca Ghar, 9,73,273 under Indira Awas and 2,31,467 houses built under Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (Rural).
In 2017-18 fiscal over 3,17,000 houses have been built so far. In an average of 1043 houses are constructed every day in the state, chief secretary A P Padhi said at a review meeting with district Collectors through video-conferencing yesterday.

In urban areas, as many as 49,142 houses have been sanctioned by now and 29,167 houses are at the various stages of construction, officials said.
In a bid to expedite house construction, the meeting decided to simplify payment of assistance to beneficiaries in urban areas.
The assistance would be paid in four phases Rs 40,000 at the time of digging of foundation, Rs 60,000 at the time of plinth, Rs 60,000 at the time of wood work and the time of colour would be disbursed.
Incentives of Rs 20,000 and Rs 10,000 would be paid for completion of houses in four months and six months, respectively.

Padhi also directed the district collectors to ensure that all targets vis--vis houses for rural and urban poor are constructed by March-end. He also advised them to inform him if any problem they are facing to complete the houses.