Bhubaneswar, July 30: The inefficiency of the earlier Naveen Patnaik government has its footprint in the execution of the pucca house allocated to Odisha under the Prime Minister Away Yojana. 

Funds allocated for more than 6.5 lakh houses were returned to the Centre as the former Naveen Patnaik government failed to distribute the houses among the eligible beneficiaries. Panchayati Raj Minister Rabi Narayan Naik revealed this in the State Assembly today. 

According to the Minister, funds allocated for 6,56,945 houses were not utilized by the Naveen Patnaik government between 2016 and 2024. The government could not give a beneficiaries' list to the Union government. 

The Minister told the House that 36,57,847 pucca houses have been constructed in Odisha, while the construction of 5,27,604 houses is underway. Besides, work for the newly allocated 32,913 houses is yet to begin. 

"So far, Odisha has been given 42,18,364 pucca houses by the Centre. As many as 1,26,729 people have applied for pucca houses and are waiting for the same," said the Minister. 

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