During the Budget Session of the Bihar Legislative Assembly on Wednesday, the issue of a large number of incomplete houses under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (Gramin) was raised. Rural Development Minister Shravan Kumar admitted in the House that out of the houses sanctioned during the financial years 2024–25 and 2025–26, as many as 9,16,709 remain incomplete. He said the state has sought funds from the Central government and that pending payments will be released as soon as the amount is received.

The Minister informed the House that for the two financial years combined, the Centre had set a target of 12,19,615 houses, against which 12,08,327 houses were sanctioned. Of these, 11,35,835 beneficiaries have received the first instalment, while the first instalment for 72,493 beneficiaries is still pending. Among those who received the first instalment, 7,47,366 beneficiaries have been paid the second instalment, whereas 3,26,950 beneficiaries are yet to receive the second instalment.

Responding to a question in the House, Kumar said one of the reasons for the delay in payments was the mandatory expenditure of funds through the SNA-SPARSH module. “There were practical difficulties due to this module. We requested the Central government to release funds under the previous system. Exemption has now been granted. The Rural Development Department will disburse payments to beneficiaries as soon as funds are received from the Government of India,” he said.

The Opposition targeted the government over the issue, stating that thousands of families are forced to live in incomplete houses. MLA Amarendra Kumar questioned how construction work could be completed when a large number of beneficiaries had not received their first and second instalments on time. The government responded that the demand for funds has been sent and the situation will normalise once the funds are made available.

Meanwhile, a new list under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana is being prepared in the state. According to official information, 1,04,90,000 applications have been received and are currently under scrutiny. Preliminary estimates suggest that nearly 40 per cent of the applications may be rejected. The Opposition has also raised concerns over this process, arguing that when lakhs of previously sanctioned houses remain incomplete, the issuance of a new list should be reconsidered.

In rural areas, several beneficiaries have carried out partial construction with the first instalment, but work has stalled due to the non-release of the second instalment. Rising prices of construction materials have further compounded their difficulties.

All eyes are now on the release of funds by the Centre. The government has maintained that pending instalments will be cleared immediately after funds are received, enabling the early completion of the unfinished houses.