Guj govt refutes Centre's claim on housing scheme

Refuting the Centre's claims that Gujarat was yet to submit proposals under Indira Awas Yojana (IAY), the state government today said it has received Rs 166 crore under the housing scheme for BPL households.
In a letter to Chief Minister Narendra Modi on August 20, Union Rural Development Minister Jairam Ramesh had expressed "surprise" over non-submission of proposals under IAY by Gujarat even after passing of five months of FY14.
"Against a target of 1,07,880 houses under the IAY in 2013-14, proposals for 98,827 (91.60%) have already been sent to the Centre," government spokesperson Nitin Patel said.
He said Ramesh's letter to the Chief Minister was devoid of facts.

"Out of proposals sent for 11 districts, the Union Rural Development Ministry has already allocated first instalment of Rs 166 crore for six districts. Funds for the remaining five districts were in process. Hence, the question of state not sending proposals doesn't arise," Patel said.
Copies of Ramesh's letter were distributed yesterday to reporters by Gujarat Congress spokesperson Manish Doshi.

Ramesh had said from 2013-14, the per unit cost of IAY houses has been raised to Rs 70,000 from Rs 45,000 in normal areas and to Rs 75,000 from 48,500 in special areas.
He claimed other than Punjab, Gujarat was the only state not to have sent proposals. In 2012-13, the Centre had sanctioned Rs 460 crore under IAY for the BJP-ruled Gujarat.

The Modi government had last month cleared four schemes under 'Mukhya Mantri Aawas Samrudhi Yojna' which aimed at building 21 lakh affordable houses in the next five years for the urban poor and lower middle income population.
The subsidised housing had become a major issue in 2012 Assembly elections.
Under IAY, 75 per cent of fund for building houses for the poor is provided by the Centre and the rest is borne by respective states.