The real estate sector wants "high-impact" measures, like special schemes and tax breaks for developers, to revive the fortunes of the affordable housing segment in the country, multiple executives told Business Standard. This segment has been struggling since the Covid-19 outbreak, in contrast to larger and costlier homes which have been selling like hot cakes. The demand comes at a time when the government is taking suggestions from industry players before tabling the General Budget in the Parliament next month.
Union Tourism and Housing and Urban Poverty Alleviation Minister Kumari Selja said, "The thrust area for the government will be creation and improvement of tourism infrastructure, promotion and publicity of India as a preferred destination in overseas markets, promotion of domestic tourism and most importantly employment generation." On housing and urban poverty alleviation, the JNNURM with approval of projects of nearly Rs 50,000 crore is reshaping our cities, she said.
UD Ministry will also give priority to linking of twin cities and infrastructure development of satellite towns and cleaning of religious cities across the country.
On the action taken by the government to construct more houses for the poor, she informed the House that a new scheme has been launched for providing interest subsidy to make housing affordable and within the repaying capacity of the economically weaker section and low income group.
For promoting a planned and healthy real estate development of colonies and apartments in big cities, union housing and urban poverty alleviation ministry has drafted a bill and invited suggestions from experts.
Noted housing finance expert Deepak Parekh will head an eight-member committee appointed on Tuesday by the ministry of housing and urban poverty alleviation to discuss the draft guidelines of government's ambitious Rajiv Awas Yojana which aims to make the country slum-free.
While data can empower communities, it reinforces identities, making local politics more caste-centric, with decisions increasingly contested on the grounds of representation.
Such dynamics could lead to shifting alliances and, in the worst case, local governance getting paralysed as each group demands proportional power-sharing, explain Amitabh Kundu and Mehebub Rahaman.
My aim will be to get the Real Estate (Regulation and Development) Bill, recently cleared by the cabinet, tabled and passed in Parliament, says Girija Vyas.
This could bring down the average approval time from the current 196 days to 45-60 days.
Concept of a real estate Bill has been around in the government for almost 10 years now.
Under the proposed scheme, there will be tripartite agreement with member, bank/housing agency and EPFO for pledging future PF contributions as EMI payment.
Private players may soon be roped in for developing slums under the Manmohan Singh government's ambitious Rajiv Awas Yojna.
The Union ministry of housing & urban poverty alleviation has refused to dilute the penalties to be imposed on non-compliant promoters in the final version of the Real Estate (Regulation and Development) Bill, despite industry opposition to the concept of sending the offender to jail.
Aiming at empowering the urban poor with legal rights, the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government is initiating steps to provide property entitlements to them.
UN-Habitat is an important organ of the UN system dealing with all issues relating to human settlements.
The government has no proposal at present to release the report of the caste census carried out in 2011, the Rajya Sabha was informed on Wednesday.
As many as 2,508 cities in 26 states have been selected under 'Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana' for providing affordable houses to the urban poor.
A study conducted by CBRS reveals there are abundant homes lying vacant in urban India.
Realty players want single window clearance for all affordable projects, reports Karan Choudhury.
For those in the EWS and LIG category who wish to take a loan up to Rs 600,000, there is an interest subsidy of 6.5 per cent for a tenure of 15 years.
Full list of the rejigged Union Council of Ministers
There will be tripartite pact with member, bank/housing agency and EPFO.
Parrikar also said that if anybody decides to attack India, he will not remain silent.
Modi govt pushed very hard the concept of smart cities in 2014.
As per the norms, sanction for prosecution has to be decided within four months time of the CBI seeking such a permission.
Thirty eight per cent of slums are in big cities.
Sanitation is always clubbed with other departments, which lead to its neglect, says Devanik Saha.
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The Monsoon Session of Parliament will begin on August 5 and the Bill, after its introduction, is likely to be referred to the Standing Committee of Parliament for examination.
It would involve constructing over 125,000 kilometres of roads and would form part of the third phase of the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana.
The list has been sent to Governor Ram Naik for approval.
Minority Affairs Minister Najma Heptulla, who had crossed 75 years, resigned on Tuesday from the Union Cabinet along with Minister of State for Heavy Industries G M Siddeshwara.
The Bharatiya Janata Party on Tuesday brushed aside former Union Minister Arun Shourie's statement that Prime Minister Narendra Modi 'managed headlines instead of economy', saying that the former had made such a remark since he was in pain for not being a part of the NDA government anymore.
Sources in the Rural Development Ministry said the actual expenditure incurred in 2020-21 will be higher than the allocated funds and it will at least be at par with this year's total estimated expenditure of MGNREGS.
Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana envisages housing to 20 mn households by 2022.
In her letter to Congress President Sonia Gandhi three days ago, Kidwai said she was relinquishing charge as party general secretary and Mahila Congress chief as he felt that Rahul Gandhi should be given the necessary space to bring in younger leaders of his choice
'Wasn't it the PM's duty to reach out to the daily wagers of whom he claims to have been a part?' asks Jyoti Punwani.
Hours after 21 ministers took the oath of office and became a part of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's ministry, speculation began on which minister would be handed which portfolio. However, all speculation ended after the list was announced.
From Bollywood strong men to cricketing greats, celebrities upped the glam quotient this poll season. Some we will see as future MPs, the others just have to get back to business. Rediff.com takes a look at some popular faces, who fought Election 2019 and here's the verdict on them.
The seventh Tibet Work Forum was held in Beijing on August 28 and 29. Delhi should be deeply concerned, at a time India faces a precarious situation in Ladakh, because the TWF also defines China's western border policies, observes Claude Arpi.
'Some in the Congress believe the party should, somewhat brazenly, claim the cause of fighting corruption as its own. But the Congress's idea of fighting corruption is nothing but tinkering with laws, it lacks the stomach to take on the corrupt,' feels T V R Shenoy.
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