Violent protests erupt in Bengal's South 24 Parganas over TMC govt's housing scheme beneficiary list

The Trinamool Congress government has announced plans to build new homes following a conflict with the Union government over the funding issue of Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana.

Addressing allegations of nepotism and corruption, Alapan Banerjee, the Chief Advisor to the Chief Minister, said the government has ordered the re-verification of housing scheme beneficiaries.

For this, the secretariat has issued new guidelines.

"GoWB is set to provide Awas funds to the people of Bengal in the face of the deprivation perpetuated by the Centre.In light of the same, a resurvey will be conducted in order to facilitate Awas funds for the people who have lost their homes to various natural and man-made disasters," Alapan Banerjee said.

"There was a scheme under which the Central government would give 60 percent, and the state would give 40 percent but since the Centre is not giving anything, the state is doing the survey so that the state can provide an Awas Yojana," he added.

On Wednesday, tension broke out between two factions of Trinamool Congress in South 24 Parganas district's Gosaba-Bali area over the issue.

This came a day after locals and a faction of the Trinamool Congress workers held protests in front of the Sundarbans Development Minister, accusing him and the local MLA of indulging in corruption for preparing lists of beneficiaries under the housing scheme.

Violent protests erupted in the area and several motorbikes were torched.