Baripada: Odisha government has issued a notification withholding the salaries of 843 officers in Mayurbhanj district over failure to complete housing projects under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY) for rural areas. The officials’ negligence has delayed the construction of houses meant for beneficiaries across the district.
The directive was issued by the Mayurbhanj District Collector, Hema Kanta Say, instructing Block Development Officers (BDOs) to communicate the salary freeze to the erring officials. According to departmental notification No. 8459, dated October 28, 2024, officers must achieve their PMAY targets for the fiscal year 2023-24 before their salaries will be released.
Of the 1,026 officers assigned to PMAY housing projects in Mayurbhanj, only 173 have fulfilled their responsibilities. Inspections revealed that a significant 63% of the assigned housing units remain incomplete. The district administration noted the delay is primarily due to a lack of field visits and insufficient oversight.
In response, the District Collector has directed 26 BDOs to intensify their monitoring efforts, stressing the importance of timely completion of government housing initiatives. The withheld salaries will remain suspended until the officers complete their pending tasks, with hopes that this measure will expedite the fulfillment of housing targets in Mayurbhanj.
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