The delay on part of the Union ministry of home affairs to decide land rates has put a spanner in the key Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana—Housing for All (Urban) scheme.
The Chandigarh Housing Board (CHB ) — the nodal agency — had launched the scheme to provide affordable housing on March 20 after carrying out a demand survey of economically weaker section (EWS), lower income group (LIG) and medium income group (MIG) households in urban areas.
In all 25,000 of the 1.23 applicants were finalised on April 22, of whom 10,000 had to get houses in the first phase.
{{/usCountry}}In all 25,000 of the 1.23 applicants were finalised on April 22, of whom 10,000 had to get houses in the first phase.
{{/usCountry}}While the UT administration has been hoping that the land rates will fixed at acquisition rates, which stand at Rs 3.1 crore per acre (Rs 6,500 per square yard), it is unlikely to happen, given the Centre’s letter sent to UT in 2012, wherein it had said the rates cannot be less than that prevailing in the market: Rs 30 crore per acre (Rs 70,000 per square yard).
In case, the land is allotted at market rate, the cost of an EWS flat will be Rs 25 lakh, instead of Rs 10 lakh in case of acquisition rate.
‘Waiting for ministry’s reply’
Speaking to HT, CHB chairman Maninder Singh said the UT administration has already written to the Union ministry to go for acquisition rate, but a reply is awaited. “Once we get the nod, we will be able to start construction by March next year,” he said.
However, sources said the ministry is no mood to withdraw its 2012 direction.
Under the first phase of the scheme, the CHB will construct 5,500 houses at Maloya (60 acre), 4,000 at Dhanas (38 acre) and 500 at Mauli Jagran (6 acre).