The fate of 11 lakh-odd beneficiaries of the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY), who are supposed to receive Rs 1.20 lakh each in the 2022-23 fiscal, hangs in balance as the Union ministry of rural development has sought several explanations from the Bengal government before releasing funds under the scheme.

“The Centre sent a 490- page letter to the state today (Friday), asking it to explain several things related to the PMAY. The letter came at a time when we were gearing up to release the funds to the beneficiaries on completion of the verification of their bona fides. The state will reply soon, but it is not sure when the Centre will release its share under the scheme,” said a senior bureaucrat at Nabanna.

The Centre had recently allotted Rs 8,400 crore under the PMAY to construct around 11 lakh houses in the state by March 2023. New Delhi had earlier held up the grant on the pretext that the scheme was renamed in Bengal.

“But ahead of releasing funds under the scheme, the Centre has again sought several explanations from the state. It is clear that if funds are not released immediately, construction of houses cannot be completed in the ongoing financial year,” another bureaucrat said.

Sources aware of the development said the Union ministry of rural development had sought explanations on whether the process of drawing up the priority list of the beneficiaries was “compromised”. Besides, the Centre has sought replies to questions over alleged irregularities under the scheme last year.

Apart from these, the state was also asked to explain why verification of the MGNREGA job cards could not be completed in the state as yet. It is mandatory for all PMAY beneficiaries to possess job cards.

Sources in the panchayat department said the state government had already sent several explanations to the Centre’s earlier questions.

“We have carried out a three-step verification to ensure that no non-eligible person gets the PMAY benefit. Moreover, we have kept the Centre in the loop while carrying out the exercise to select proper beneficiaries. Raising questions on the procedure at this stage is unacceptable,” said a source.

A section of bureaucrats at Nabanna smelt political interference in the entire process.

“A team of BJP MPs from Bengal had met the Union rural development minister soon after the Centre had allotted a sum of Rs 8,400 crore under the scheme. Now, if old issues are raised just before releasing the funds, it can be said that there is a political game behind this,” said a source.

Officials in the panchayat department said there was no reason to send the letter as the Centre had allotted funds only after it had been satisfied with the state’s replies.

“Prior to the allotment of funds, the Centre had sent similar queries, like the explanation for alleged misappropriation of funds in previous years. The Union government was satisfied with the state’s replies and the steps it had initiated,” said a source.

Trinamul Congress leaders said if the BJP tried to deprive the needy people in the state of the grants, it would backfire for the saffron camp. “We will campaign how the BJP-led Centre has stopped the release of funds on fabricated charges. People of the state will give them a befitting reply,” said a Trinamul MLA.