Bhubaneswar: The Naveen Patnaik government has decided to purchase private land to provide land to eligible homestead-less families under the rural housing scheme. The government has also decided to give land for tourism projects through auction in major urban areas.

Revenue minister Maheswar Mohanty said: "We have found that often houses allotted under Rajiv Awas Yojana could not be constructed due to lack of land. Now, we have directed the district collectors to purchase land for houses from private parties and provide it to eligible homestead-less families in case the leaseable government land is not available."

The state government is providing land under the Basundhara programme under which homestead-less families in rural area are provided with homestead land of up to 10 decimals.

During a review meeting, it has been found that homestead-less families selected under rural housing schemes particularly in Biju Pucca Ghara Yojana and Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana are unable to construct the houses as they don't possess any homestead land.

"If allottees under the rural housing schemes are eligible homestead-less families and are encroaching upon leasable government land, expeditious action will be taken to settle the same in their favour," said an official.

He added that the collectors would utilise the funds available at their disposal under District Mineral Fund for purchase of private land for distribution among homestead-less beneficiaries.

The Odisha government on Monday also decided to give land for tourism projects. A decision to this effect was taken at a meeting held under the chairmanship of chief secretary Aditya Prasad Padhi.#The land meant for tourism projects in major areas would be allotted through public auction. Allotment of land is important for the development of tourism sector that suffers from infrastructure-related problems.