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Slum Development / Housing

Now, housing regulator’s eye on govt and civic agencies too

Tuesday, 29 June 2010 10:28 administrator
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Indian Express   29.06.2010

Now, housing regulator’s eye on govt and civic agencies too

Rakshit Sonawane Tags : housing regulator, mumbai Posted: Tue Jun 29 2010, 00:06 hrs

Mumbai:  The government, struggling for four years to set up a regulator for the housing industry, is now planning to widen its scope by including under its ambit agencies like the BMC, housing authority MHADA and the Slum Rehabilitation Authority (SRA), apart from builders and developers.

The government has already yielded to pressure from stakeholders and decided to dilute the authority of the regulator, which initially was to have the power to fix the prices of flats.

The government is set to introduce a bill in the monsoon session of the Legislative Assembly, scheduled from July 12, to create the regulator with diluted powers. Before the session begins, the Cabinet will approve it.

“I feel the need to widen the scope of the housing regulator,” Minister of State for Housing Sachin Ahir said. “Instead of confining it to builders and developers, it should also cover agencies like the BMC, MHADA and SRA. It is not just builder versus his client; it should also regulate government agencies.”

He justified the effort to dilute the regulator’s powers to fix prices, saying this would be impractical as adjacent buildings can be priced differently in the market. He said the “ready reckoner” is no longer the basis for calculating real estate rates and if the government empowers the regulator to fix prices, it might lead to litigation. But even without the power to fix prices, he said, the regulator would have enough teeth to control and monitor the housing sector.

The state government, which will be the first in the country to set up such a housing, had released the draft housing policy in November 2006. The proposed regulator would have the powers of a civil court and monitor permission for the use of land for housing, prescribe a quota for low-income groups in a housing project, settle disputes, register builders, promote residential zones and rental housing schemes.

Last Updated on Tuesday, 29 June 2010 10:29
 

HMDA auction: loan offer for buyers

Monday, 28 June 2010 05:40 administrator
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The Hindu     28.06.2010

HMDA auction: loan offer for buyers

Staff Reporter

HUDCO agrees to provide loan at 8 per cent interest

ICICI comes forward with attractive interest rate for those buying the plots and houses

The present auction of left over properties is spread across the city

HYDERABAD: The financially embattled Hyderabad Metropolitan Development Authority (HMDA), which has put its plots for auction in different locations in and around the city has some good tidings with financial institutions coming forward to offer loans for prospective buyers at concessional rates.

The Housing and Urban Development Corporation (HUDCO) which has agreed to extend an assistance of Rs.700 crore to the HMDA on favourable terms that include long repayment schedule and lesser interest rates, has agreed to provide loans to buyers of its plots and houses at eight per cent interest.

This agreement of subsidised interest rate for HMDA plots and houses in the present auction lot was reached following discussions between the HUDCO representatives and Metropolitan Commissioner, B.P. Acharya earlier this week.

Similarly, the ICICI has also came forward with attractive interest rate for those going for the plots and houses put for sale through e-bidding and the offer stands at 8.25 per cent.

The present auction of left over properties is spread across different parts and include 102 at Miyapur, 98 at Nallagandla, 20 at Ramachandrapuram, five at Mushk Mahal Residential Complex, two at Tellapur and one each at Asifnagar and Nandagiri Hills. Except for Nandagiri Hills, most of the properties come with a reserved price /offset price of Rs.10,000 per square yard.

Last Updated on Monday, 28 June 2010 05:41
 

Slum demolition: Can you stand in scorching heat the whole day, HC asks VMC chief

Tuesday, 22 June 2010 10:05 administrator
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Indian Express        22.06.2010

Slum demolition: Can you stand in scorching heat the whole day, HC asks VMC chief

Express News Service Tags : court, slum demolition Posted: Tue Jun 22 2010, 06:36 hrs

 Ahmedabad:  Directs M K Das to furnish civic body’s plans to rehabilitate slumdwellers

The Gujarat High Court on Monday lambasted Vadodara Municipal Commissioner M K Das over demolition of a slum, allegedly encroached upon government land in the city, without providing alternate accommodation to the slum dwellers.

The division bench headed by the Chief Justice asked Das to file an affidavit by Friday furnishing the civic body’s plans to rehabilitate the landless slum dwellers after having consultation with the revenue and urban development departments.

In May, VMC authorities had demolished a slum of around 550 families in the Dholi-Kui locality without giving them alternate accommodation. Following this, a voluntary organisation, fighting for the rights of slum dwellers, filed a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) in the HC praying alternate housing and compensation for the slum dwellers from the VMC.

The petitioner had produced photographs of the demolition drive and after looking at the same, the HC had directed the municipal commissioner to personally remain present before it to explain the demolition decision.

Today, Das remained present before the court, which asked certain questions to him about the manner in which the slum was demolished. The court asked Das, “Can you stand in the scorching heat the whole day?” The bench also asked him where would the slum dwellers go if no alternate accommodation has been provided to them. At one point, the court asked Das why it should not pass an order directing the government to take steps against him in this regard.

Also, the court held the authorities responsible for the menace of encroachment on government land stating that had they remained vigilant to check encroachment, the problem would not have existed at all.

Last Updated on Tuesday, 22 June 2010 10:08
 
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