Country has 24.71 million house shortage: Govt

The total shortage of housing in the country is 24.71 million, the government has said quoting reports of a study.

The total shortage of housing in the country is 24.71 million, the government has said quoting reports of a study.

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“According to the estimates made by the Technical Group constituted by the Ministry for assessment of Urban Housing shortage at the end of the Tenth Five Year Plan, the total housing shortage in the country is 24.71 million,” Union Minister for Housing and Urban Poverty Alleviation Kumari Selja informed Rajya Sabha in a written reply to a question.

Underling that it is “primarily” the responsibility of state governments to provide for adequate shelter, Selja said, “Union Government, however, has formulated the first urban area-focused National Urban Housing and habitat Policy 2007 to set in motion a process to provide affordable housing for all, particularly economically weaker sections and low income groups.”

The policy intends to promote sustainable development of habitat in the country with a view to ensure equitable supply of land, shelter and services at affordable prices to all sections of society, she said.