Tiles of houses built under PMAY scheme carry photos of PM Modi and CM Chouhan
BJP leader and Betul Nagar Nigam chairman Alkesh Arya has no qualms in saying ‘Har har Modi, ghar ghar Modi’ while talking about the urban administration department’s ongoing work- fixing of tiles bearing Prime Minister Narendra Modi and chief minister Madhya Pradesh Shivraj Singh Chouhan’s photographs, on the houses built under Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojna (PMAY).
Alkesh Arya, an ex-MLA, said, “We are not leaving any stone unturned to complete the process of the first phase. It’s the matter of pride for us. A total of 1,500 houses would see such tiles at Betul town.”
At present 1.19 lakh houses are built under PMAY across the state putting Madhya Pradesh on the top of the chart of states as far as houses built so far under the scheme is concerned. These are out of a total of 5.33 lakh houses sanctioned so far in Madhya Pradesh under the housing scheme.
Tenders have been floated for supply of tiles to municipal bodies. The urban administration department’s April 4 order says, “Two tiles measuring 450x600 mm and bearing photos of Prime Minister and chief minister- one at the main gate and the other above platform in the kitchen have to be fixed in Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojna (Shahri-2022)’s housing units.”
“Such tiles are mostly manufactured in Gujarat”, said a senior officer in urban administration department pleading anonymity. The towns where the tiles are being fixed after the ten- der process include Chhindwara, Singrauli, Sehore, Sidhi, Rewa and Katni.
Ramlal Saket, a beneficiary from Rewa said, “I have no problem. When there is a concrete structure of bricks owned by me now there is no problem with a tile or two bearing the PM and CM’s photos.”
The state Congress media in charge Manak Agrawal said, “This is clearly the BJP’s election agenda ahead of the assembly elections this year and Lok Sabha elections next year. It’s a tactic for cheap publicity.”
Minister for urban administration development Maya Singh said, “The PM and CM want to see roof on everybody’s head. That’s why the scheme has drawn a tremendous response people. They are extremely happy and they themselves are demanding such tiles to be fixed on their houses.”
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