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Slum Development / Housing

PUDA plans movable houses for slum-dwellers

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The Times of India 17.11.2009

PUDA plans movable houses for slum-dwellers

MOHALI: To keep a tab on mushrooming of slums and large-scale encroachment on government land, an executive engineer with the Punjab Urban Planning and Development Authority (PUDA) has come up with an innovative idea - a movable house for slum dwellers.

The 9x12 feet room will have a bed box and two berths, similar to the way in trains - one folded and other fixed.
The room will take 7 days to prepare and can be easily shifted from one place to another with the help of a crane.

The design has been submitted to the chief engineer, PUDA, for approval. NS Kalsi, executive engineer of PUDA, who prepared the design said, “Slum dwellers encroach upon a land and even after their rehabilitation, they sell it further. The process continues and it becomes hard to get the land vacated.” Stating that his design also has provision of double-storey rooms, Kalsi said, “Around 90 such structures can be set up on 1 acre along with a common toilet and bath facility.” The executive engineer said one structure would cost around Rs 74,000 and this could be recovered by renting out the house to the migrant population. He said the movable rooms would also have provision of enclosed area, including proper security system. “This will help in maintaining a detailed record of people coming from other states as rooms will be rented only after documents are submitted.”
 

DDA to issue allotment letters soon

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Indian Express 16.11.2009

DDA to issue allotment letters soon

The Delhi Development Authority (DDA) said on Sunday that it will complete issuing allotment letters to successful applicants of the 2008 housing scheme, which was mired in controversy over allegations of rigging.

“Successful applicants will be issued letters of allotment by November 30, which shall reach them latest by the first week of December,” a senior official said.

The allotment of flats was held up earlier this year due to allegations that a former DDA official and some others had managed to get allotments of some flats reserved for scheduled tribes and scheduled castes through fraudulent means.

On October 29, the DDA announced that it would commence allotment of flats in November after Thiruvananthapuram-based C-DAC gave a clean chit to the software used for the draw of lots.

 

Last Updated on Monday, 16 November 2009 11:15
 

Powerful housing regulator top on minister’s agenda

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Indian Express 14.11.2009

Powerful housing regulator top on minister’s agenda

Even as he wants the Maharashtra Housing and Area Development Authority (MHADA) to bid like private developers for public-private partnership (PPP) projects, Minister of State for Housing Sachin Ahir seeks to establish a powerful housing regulator that would cover the high income group housing in addition to projects meant for the lower and middle income groups.

Pointing to the shortage of land in Mumbai that is hindering the availability of affordable housing for the middle class in the metropolis, NCP member and Worli MLA Ahir said it was necessary for the MHADA to take the lead in projects like the redevelopment of BDD chawls and ensure maximum housing stock for the middle class.

“The MHADA should take the initiative in PPP projects,” he said, adding that the authority could also enter into joint ventures and take over projects that had been affected by recession. “Why should the MHADA not take the lead?... If it takes the initiative like private developers, then the middle class will get middle income group and lower income group housing.”

Ahir said the government would give priority to the proposed housing regulatory authority. The Maharashtra Housing Regulatory Commission Bill has been pending for over a year. The authority, which has been planned on the lines of TRAI or SEBI, will help rationalise the prices of houses for the middle and lower income groups and fix the percentage of such affordable flats that private developers have to build in their residential projects.

However, he said it was necessary for the authority to cover high income group projects as well, with the rates fixed by the authority serving as a sort of ready reckoner. “It is my opinion that it (regulatory authority) has to cover all projects.”

Ahir said the government would ensure transparency in the slum rehabilitation authority schemes besides strengthening the regional boards of MHADA.

Last Updated on Saturday, 14 November 2009 11:21
 


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