EWS likely to get quota in pvt housing projects

Housing Minister M H Ambareesh on Wednesday said the State government will soon implement provision of the new Affordable Housing Policy, making it mandatory for private developers to construct houses for economically weaker sections (EWS) and lower income groups (LIG) in 40 per cent of their layouts.

 

Speaking to reporters in Bangalore, Ambareesh said the State Cabinet had already cleared the Affordable Housing policy. Similar policies had been implemented in Punjab, Rajasthan and Kerala.

The dwelling under the EWS and the LIG will be handed over to the Karnataka Housing Board (KHB) at a pre-determined price for allotment to eligible applicants. Developers will be free to sell the remaining land at their own prices. The maximum household limit for EWS and LIG is Rs 8,000 and Rs 16,000 per month respectively, the policy states. 

The developers will get concessions on Floor Area Ratio (FAR). There are four other affordable housing models in the policy. Ambareesh said the Centre has given its nod to provide grants to the tune of Rs 2,000 crore for various slum housing schemes in the State. The minister said the Centre has sanctioned Rs 1,334 crore for 24 housing schemes and refused to sanction more. 

In the first phase, the housing schemes will be taken up in corporation limits and to be later extended to district and taluk centres. As many as 13 lakh houses were sanctioned between 2010 and 2013, but two lakh houses were built.

By 2014-15, all the six lakh houses in various stages of construction would be completed and another 2.5 lakh houses will be built, Ambareesh said.