Dispur in trouble as targets of schemes preponed

Staff Reporter

GUWAHATI, June 24: With the Centre advancing the target schedules of some important schemes, including the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojona (PMAY) and the Saubhagya Scheme or Pradhan Mantri Sahaj Bijli Har Ghar Yojana, Dispur is in for a real litmus test.

Keeping an eye on the 2019 Lok Sabha poll, the NDA government at the Centre has advanced the target schedules of some important schemes from 2019 to December 31, 2018 so as to make the benefits of the schemes available for the public before the election. Even if the advancement of target schedules of the schemes by the Centre clicks elsewhere in the country, it has put Dispur under pressure.

Dispur is already lagging much behind its target schedules in most of the schemes, and with the advancement of their target schedules it seems an impossible task for Dispur. On PMAY (Gramin), Dispur has a target of constructing 2,59,779 houses. However, till May this year the State Government has erected only 30,620 houses which is nowhere near the target. It’s a big challenge for Dispur to meet its target in the remaining six months.

The situation is no different in Pradhan Mantri Sahaj Bijli Har Ghar Yojana. Assam has as many as 24 lakh households without electricity as on May this year. It seems impossible for the State government to provide electricity to them in the next six months.