Latest news with #PradhanMantriAwas
Time of India
a day ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Odisha revenue minister assures action against sand mafia
BHUBANESWAR : Revenue minister Suresh Pujari on Saturday said Odisha would not be allowed to follow the lawless path in sand operations like it is in Bihar and West Bengal, while responding to the recent assault of an additional tehsildar in Kaptipada block, Mayurbhanj district, by the sand mafia. He promised stringent action against the sand mafia regardless of their connections, while speaking to mediapersons here on Saturday. "The Kaptipada incident represents a serious escalation in conflict between law enforcement and the sand mafia. The attack on officers performing their enforcement duties is similar to Bihar and West Bengal, where criminals challenge state authority. The administration's commitment in curbing illegal sand trafficking faces violent resistance from well-organised criminal networks. We pledged decisive action against both the direct perpetrators and their masterminds," said Pujari. This zero-tolerance approach signals a strong message that such attacks on govt officials will not be tolerated. The incident serves as a watershed moment in the ongoing battle against illegal sand mining operations, officials said. Kaptipada additional tehsildar Bhimakanta Majhi suffered injuries after an attack by the sand mafia near Suno river bed on Monday morning. In the incident, Majhi's car was damaged. Majhi, based on intelligence reports, went to inspect sand being lifted illegally using excavators. When he opposed it, he was attacked. Police said the miscreants, mostly goons of the sand mafia, intercepted Majhi's car and tried to stop him from venturing into the sand lifting site in the river bed. Pujari announced free sand provision for Pradhan Mantri Awas beneficiaries, with a draft standard operating procedure (SOP) already in preparation to streamline the process. "The most important thing is how to facilitate the supply of sand at low cost to the lower middle class and poor. We will introduce the provision of issuing permits to beneficiaries of PM Awas to lift at least two tractor fulls of sand for free for construction of houses. The PM Awas will be free from the sand cost burden," Pujari told reporters. BJD spokesperson Lenin Mohanty commented that the minister's statements are merely an attempt to whitewash the obvious collusion between administration officials and the mining mafia. "Instead of taking concrete action, the minister has limited himself to making empty rhetoric," he said. Mohanty said there has been a drastic decline in revenue from minor minerals from Rs 1,485 crore in 2023-24 to just Rs 600 crore in 2024-25.
Time of India
2 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Pujari assures action against sand mafia
Bhubaneswar: Revenue minister Suresh Pujari on Saturday said Odisha would not be allowed to follow the lawless path in sand operations like it is in Bihar and West Bengal, while responding to the recent assault of an additional tehsildar in Kaptipada block, Mayurbhanj district, by the sand mafia. He promised stringent action against the sand mafia regardless of their connections, while speaking to mediapersons here on Saturday. "The Kaptipada incident represents a serious escalation in conflict between law enforcement and the sand mafia. The attack on officers performing their enforcement duties is similar to Bihar and West Bengal, where criminals challenge state authority. The administration's commitment in curbing illegal sand trafficking faces violent resistance from well-organised criminal networks. We pledged decisive action against both the direct perpetrators and their masterminds," said Pujari. This zero-tolerance approach signals a strong message that such attacks on govt officials will not be tolerated. The incident serves as a watershed moment in the ongoing battle against illegal sand mining operations, officials said. Kaptipada additional tehsildar Bhimakanta Majhi suffered injuries after an attack by the sand mafia near Suno river bed on Monday morning. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Keep Your Home Efficient with This Plug-In elecTrick - Save upto 80% on Power Bill Learn More Undo In the incident, Majhi's car was damaged. Majhi, based on intelligence reports, went to inspect sand being lifted illegally using excavators. When he opposed it, he was attacked. Police said the miscreants, mostly goons of the sand mafia, intercepted Majhi's car and tried to stop him from venturing into the sand lifting site in the river bed. Pujari announced free sand provision for Pradhan Mantri Awas beneficiaries, with a draft standard operating procedure (SOP) already in preparation to streamline the process. "The most important thing is how to facilitate the supply of sand at low cost to the lower middle class and poor. We will introduce the provision of issuing permits to beneficiaries of PM Awas to lift at least two tractor fulls of sand for free for construction of houses. The PM Awas will be free from the sand cost burden," Pujari told reporters. BJD spokesperson Lenin Mohanty commented that the minister's statements are merely an attempt to whitewash the obvious collusion between administration officials and the mining mafia. "Instead of taking concrete action, the minister has limited himself to making empty rhetoric," he said. Mohanty said there has been a drastic decline in revenue from minor minerals from Rs 1,485 crore in 2023-24 to just Rs 600 crore in 2024-25.
Time of India
6 days ago
- Business
- Time of India
State will be first to reach 100% target of PMAY scheme: Maharashtra CM
PUNE : Chief minister Devendra Fadnavis on Tuesday said Maharashtra is set to provide 30 lakh houses to homeless people under the Pradhan Mantri Awas scheme and become the first state in India to achieve 100% of the target. He also said a fresh survey would be carried out to identify homeless people who are yet to benefit. The CM was speaking at a PM Awas Yojana award function in Pune with Union minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan as the chief guest. Deputy CM Ajit Pawar was also present at the event. Fadnavis said, "The central govt considered the socio-economic survey of 2011 to identify homeless people when the scheme was launched. However, it was full of faults. Only 10 lakh people from the state were named and housing sanctioned to them all. We carried out a fresh survey in 2018 and the number had gone up to 30 lakh." Meanwhile, the state govt has expedited the process to provide necessary permissions for houses sanctioned by the Centre to the 30 lakh people. "Maharashtra will become the first state in the country to achieve 100% target under the PM Awas scheme," he added. During his speech, Chouhan told the state govt to do yet another survey to zero in on more homeless people. "The Centre has sanctioned houses to all homeless people in Maharashtra as per the 2018 survey. However, I urge the state to conduct a fresh one to see if anyone falling under the category has been left out. If the state provides a fresh list, we will sanction it too."
Time of India
6 days ago
- Business
- Time of India
State will be 1st to reach 100% target of Awas acheme: CM
1 2 3 Pune: Chief minister Devendra Fadnavis on Tuesday said Maharashtra is set to provide 30 lakh houses to homeless people under the Pradhan Mantri Awas scheme and become the first state in India to achieve 100% of the target. He also said a fresh survey would be carried out to identify homeless people who are yet to benefit. The CM was speaking at a PM Awas Yojana award function in Pune with Union minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan as the chief guest. Deputy CM Ajit Pawar was also present at the event. Fadnavis said, "The central govt considered the socio-economic survey of 2011 to identify homeless people when the scheme was launched. However, it was full of faults. Only 10 lakh people from the state were named and housing sanctioned to them all. We carried out a fresh survey in 2018 and the number had gone up to 30 lakh." Meanwhile, the state govt has expedited the process to provide necessary permissions for houses sanctioned by the Centre to the 30 lakh people. "Maharashtra will become the first state in the country to achieve 100% target under the PM Awas scheme," he added. During his speech, Chouhan told the state govt to do yet another survey to zero in on more homeless people. "The Centre has sanctioned houses to all homeless people in Maharashtra as per the 2018 survey. However, I urge the state to conduct a fresh one to see if anyone falling under the category has been left out. If the state provides a fresh list, we will sanction it too." Pune: Chief minister Devendra Fadnavis on Tuesday said Maharashtra is set to provide 30 lakh houses to homeless people under the Pradhan Mantri Awas scheme and become the first state in India to achieve 100% of the target. He also said a fresh survey would be carried out to identify homeless people who are yet to benefit. The CM was speaking at a PM Awas Yojana award function in Pune with Union minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan as the chief guest. Deputy CM Ajit Pawar was also present at the event. Fadnavis said, "The central govt considered the socio-economic survey of 2011 to identify homeless people when the scheme was launched. However, it was full of faults. Only 10 lakh people from the state were named and housing sanctioned to them all. We carried out a fresh survey in 2018 and the number had gone up to 30 lakh." Meanwhile, the state govt has expedited the process to provide necessary permissions for houses sanctioned by the Centre to the 30 lakh people. "Maharashtra will become the first state in the country to achieve 100% target under the PM Awas scheme," he added. During his speech, Chouhan told the state govt to do yet another survey to zero in on more homeless people. "The Centre has sanctioned houses to all homeless people in Maharashtra as per the 2018 survey. However, I urge the state to conduct a fresh one to see if anyone falling under the category has been left out. If the state provides a fresh list, we will sanction it too."
