Bhubaneswar, Dec 16 (IANS): Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Friday urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to waive off the withdrawal limits on bank account for rural housing beneficiaries.

In his letter, Patnaik said removal of limit for withdrawing money would be in the interest of the poor rural housing beneficiaries and help rural housing schemes.

The Chief Minister said that the state has completed about 1.4 lakh houses under various rural housing schemes, both centrally sponsored and state funded, during the current financial year.

He said the state aims to reach the target of five lakh by March 31, 2017.

Timely release of instalments to the beneficiaries, among other initiatives taken up by state, plays a pivotal role in successful implementation of these schemes, he added.

The total sanctioned amount was released in four instalments to the beneficiaries in the state under the present format.

"The limit on withdrawal from bank account not only causes inconvenience to the poor beneficiaries of these schemes, but also has been a dampener to our goal of completing five lakh houses during this financial year," said Patnaik.