The Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) of India criticised the Tamil Nadu Urban Habitat Development Board (TNUHDB) for the delay in framing the Tamil Nadu Affordable Urban Housing and Habitat policy and preparing the Housing for All Plan of Action (HFAPoA). The CAG mentioned that this delay defeated the purpose of the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana ? Urban (PMAY-U) and led to urban poor residing in unhygienic conditions. The performance audit, which was presented in the assembly for the year ending March 31, 2021, stated that out of the total housing demand of 13.92 lakh, the TNUHDB only obtained sanction for 7.08 lakh houses between 2015-21. Among these, 3.44 lakh houses were completed, and the remaining 3.64 lakh houses were in various stages of construction. In response to this, the government explained that out of the 13.92 lakh demand, 4.84 lakh were related to housing under the credit-linked subsidy scheme, which the TNUHDB was not implementing. Out of the remaining 9.08 lakh, sanction had been given for 5.60 lakh houses, and 2.94 lakh houses had been constructed. However, the CAG pointed out that even after the completion of the targeted mission period, which was March 2022, the state government had not sought approval for the remaining 3.48 lakh tenements. Furthermore, construction of 2.66 lakh tenements sanctioned during the mission period had not been completed. Due to these factors, urban poor continued to live in unhygienic conditions, as per the CAG's findings.
