PM approves additional sum for construction of houses

PATNA: The Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has approved an additional sum of Rs 400 crore for construction of flood damaged houses under Indira Awas Yojana (IAY) in Bihar. The Prime Minister had undertaken an aerial survey of Bihar during the month of July and had directed to assess the extent of damage by a central team.
Based on the report of the central team, PM has ordered to make an allocation of Rs 400 crore to Bihar under IAY for the year 2004-2005 over and above the normal allocation of Rs 408 crore.
The Press Information Bureau in its release issued here on Friday said that it would be possible to undertake construction of two lakh additional houses under IAY. These houses shall be constructed for beneficiaries whose houses have been damaged due to recent floods in the state, the release said.
The Chief Minister Rabri Devi had earlier sent a memorandum to the Prime Minister demanding for provision of extra funds under IAY.
The release further said that the union minister of rural development Raghuvansh Prasad Singh has directed the concerned agencies to undertake expeditious implementation of this special package so that two lakh houses which were damaged may be constructed within this financial year. The ministry of rural development will specially monitor the progress of this scheme.
Nearly two lakh poor families in flood affected areas shall get "pucca" houses. Every family will get Rs 25,000 for construction of pucca RCC roofed houses, the release said.