Realtors doubt Orissa govt's housing policy for poor

The Orissa government's plan to build one lakh affordable houses in 10 years has made developers skeptical. The 'scheme for affordable urban housing in Odisha-2012' annunciated recently stipulates developers to reserve 15 per cent built-up space for lower income group (LIG) and economically weaker sections (EWS) in residential projects of size exceeding 2,000 sq m.

The builders opined that it was not feasible and suggested reduction in their contribution to low cost houses. Fifteen per cent built-up area is on the higher side and the government should lower it to 5 per cent or ask the builders to reserve 10 per cent dwelling units, said president of Real Estate Developers Association of Odisha Pradipta Kumar Biswasray.

The realtors' body has also suggested an alternative model for developing such houses. The government can ask private developers to build stipulated amount of dwelling units for the poor on a designated government land. This would create a cluster of LIG/EWS houses which the government can allot later, the Reda chief said.