Bhubaneswar, Nov. 30 -- The Panchayati Raj and Drinking Water Department of the Odisha government has issued a stringent directive to all District Collectors, warning that delays in providing pucca houses to eligible landless families will not be tolerated.

The order, issued on Friday, follows reports that hundreds of rural households cleared for housing assistance under flagship schemes are still awaiting land allocation.

In its latest communication, the department instructed that all Rural Housing (RH) beneficiaries identified as landless must be provided house-sites on priority. Officials were reminded that landless households are entitled to first preference under the existing guidelines.

Explaining the seriousness, the department ...