Odisha CM dedicates 10 lakh pucca houses to public

Odisha Sun Times Bureau
Bhubaneswar, May 18:

Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik today dedicated 10 lakh pucca houses constructed under the ‘Biju Pucca Ghar Yojana’ of the State Government.

Speaking on a function organised to mark the event in Jayadev Bhavan of Bhubaneswar, Patnaik further promised that his government would help build another 16 lakh houses under the scheme in next three years.

Explaining about the scheme, Naveen explained that the October 2013 Phailin cyclone moved him to go for the scheme after he was informed that hundreds of thousands of people would lose their kaccha homes because of the cyclone.

“In the run-up to 2014 elections, our party had made an announcement in the election manifesto to turn each kaccha house in the state into a pucca one. We had in-principle accepted the manifesto during the first cabinet meeting of the government,” said Naveen.

“I am happy that we have been able to convert a million kaccha houses into pucca ones in the last two years and have been able facilitate a safe shelter to 50 lakh people of the state. This is a record success in the country,” he added.

He further linked the scheme with the legacy of his father.

“Biju Babu spoke of the Odisha of his dreams while delivering Vinod Kanungo memorial lecture here in Jayadev Bhavan back in 1992. A decent roof for all was his dream. I am proud to dedicate 10 lakh houses to the people of the state on his birth centenary,” said Naveen.