Maha govt announces housing concessions for EWS

Maharashtra government today decided to offer various concessions to the economically weaker sections (EWS) for projects under its ambitious "housing for all" scheme.
"Land for such affordable housing projects will be allotted to the government housing agencies at nominal rates as per this cabinet decision," said an official from the Chief Minister's Office.
He said a 50 per cent concession will be given in the surveyor and development cost while stamp duty is being fixed at Rs 1,000 for houses meant for the EWS.
In another decision, the cabinet also decided to bring down the retirement age for teaching and non-teaching staff in Higher and Technical Education department to 60 from 62.

"Retirement age for the post of Principal has been kept as it is at 65, subject to a performance review as mentioned in the earlier decision," said an official from Education department.
The cabinet also decided to introduce new Maharashtra Electricity Duty Act 2016 replacing earlier law of 1958.

"The Act is necessary in view of new concepts like power trading, exchange of power, open access, de-licensing of electric generation," said an official from Energy department.
He claimed that the new law will benefit the state exchequer as several consumers were using electricity from various service providers who are currently out of ambit of power duty.

The cabinet also decided to set up 'Punyashlok Ahilyadevi Holkar Government Agriculture College' at Halgaon in Ahmednagar district.