UP to launch affordable housing scheme

The Samajwadi Awas Yojna will make an effort to construct three lakh houses by 2016

With an aim to provide affordable housing to medium income group in the state, Uttar Pradesh government today announced to launch 'Samajwadi Awas Yojna' and said that efforts would be made to construct three lakh houses by 2016.

"The cabinet has decided to launch 'Samajwadi Awas Yojna' to benefit medium income group, besides fixing ceiling rates for apartments," Principal Secretary Housing Sadakant told reporters here.

He said that the houses constructed under the scheme will cost between Rs 15 lakh to Rs 30 lakh and that as a policy it has been decided that land use conversion would be free of cost.

"The government has decided to fix ceiling on per square feet rate of the apartments. It will not exceed Rs 3,000 square feet in national capital region, Rs 2,800 per square feet in metro and Rs 2,500 in other cities," he said.

He said that concessions would also be offered, which include rebate in the stamp duty and single window clearance.

He said that the government has also framed bylaws for land use conversion.

"Under this a separate infrastructure fund would be created in which people will know that it will be used for development," he said.

The principal secretary said that the government has also decided to relax provisions under hi-tech township scheme.

On protecting farmers interest, he said that land acquisition law has become more stringent and under it the farmers are to be made stakeholders.

Regarding illegal colonies, he mentioned that a policy would be brought soon.

On a question regarding corruption in government housing authorities, he said that there has been a drop in the accountability, but the government was committed to take action once a report was received.

Sadakant said that the scheme could be implemented in rural areas as well.