EWS, Low Income Group unaware of provisions
Mohinder Verma
JAMMU, Aug 23: The much-hyped Jammu and Kashmir Housing, Slum Redevelopment and Rehabilitation and Township Policy approved by the Administrative Council headed by Lieutenant Governor over a month back has yet not been made public by the Housing and Urban Development Department. Due to this, various sections of the society in the Union Territory are unaware of the provisions kept in the plan for them by the Government.
The Administrative Council, which met under the chairmanship of the then Lieutenant Governor Girish Chandra Murmu on July 17, 2020, had accorded sanction to the proposal of the Housing and Urban Development Department for adoption and notification of Jammu and Kashmir Housing, Affordable Housing, Slum Redevelopment and Rehabilitation and Township Policy, 2020.
As per the precedence, the policy was supposed to be notified by the Housing and Urban Development Department within a day or two so as to make the people aware about the important decision taken by the Government.
The immediate notification of policy was also imperative as in the official statement issued after the meeting of Administrative Council it was mentioned that special provisions have been kept in the Housing Policy to fast track approvals of housing in Economically Weaker Section and Low Income Group categories.
“However, despite the lapse of more than one month the Housing Policy has not been put in the public domain as a result of which people remain in dark about the steps planned to be taken by the Government for meeting the growing requirement for affordable housing, slum redevelopment and rehabilitation and rental housing”, official sources told EXCELSIOR.
While according sanction to the policy the Administrative Council had asked for certain modifications before its notification and after compliance to the directions of the highest decision making body the policy was forwarded to the General Administration Department for placement before the Administrative Council, an officer of the Housing and Urban Development Department said on the condition of anonymity, adding only General Administration Department can give exact information about the subsequent developments and reasons for delay in sending it back to the Housing and Urban Development Department for notification.
Thereafter, the meeting of Administrative Council was held on August 6, 2020 and modifications as desired should have been placed before it for approval and subsequent notification of the Housing Policy but till date the vital document has not seen the light of the day for the reasons best known either to the Housing and Urban Development Department or the General Administration Department, sources said, adding “this is a clear example of lack of coordination between the Government departments”.
In the official statement issued on July 17, it was mentioned by the Government that Housing Policy envisages seven models of housing, ranging from in-situ slum redevelopment to integrated township to cater to the need of every section of society.
“The new policy aims at promoting public-private-partnerships for affordable housing and slum rehabilitation projects and provides platform for operation and maintenance of integrated/special townships in a cooperative manner. It further proposes minimum relocation of existing slum dwellers so as to maintain sanctity of existing economic and social linkages developed over a period of time in these informal settlements”, the Government had stated.
It was also mentioned that the policy includes provisions for fast track approvals of housing in Economically Weaker Section (EWS) and Low Income Group (LIG) categories. Besides, it provides for their incentivization in the form of exemptions from building permit fee, land use conversion and external development charges.
“The policy also aims to provide Rental Housing in which EWS families will be given dwelling unit on license basis for occupation and use for a particular period on making initial deposit and monthly charges and in order to meet the growing requirement for affordable housing, slum redevelopment and rehabilitation and rental housing initial target for construction of 1 lakh dwelling units over the next 5 years has been set”, the Government had stated on July 17.
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