New housing policy approved for J&K

Photo: For representational purposeThe Jammu and Kashmir Government has approved the proposal for setting up affordable houses, slum redevelopment, rehabilitation and township policy for 2020.The Administrative Council, which met here under the chairmanship of Lieutenant Governor GC Murmu, accorded sanction to the proposal of the Housing and Urban Development Department for adoption and notification of J&K Housing, Affordable Housing, Slum Redevelopment and Rehabilitation and Township Policy, 2020.The policy envisages seven models of housing – ranging from in-situ slum redevelopment to integrated township – to cater to the need of every section of society.The new policy aims at promoting public-private-partnerships (PPP) for affordable housing and slum rehabilitation projects and provides a platform for operation and maintenance (O&M) of integrated or special townships in a cooperative manner.It further proposes the minimum relocation of existing slum dwellers so as to maintain the sanctity of existing economic and social linkages developed over a period of time in these informal settlements.Additionally, the policy also includes provisions for fast track approvals of housing in Economically Weaker Section (EWS) and Low Income Group (LIG) categories. Besides, it provides for their incentivisation in the form of exemptions from building permit fee, land use conversion and external development charges.The policy also aims to provide rental housing, in which EWS families will be given dwelling unit on license basis for occupation and use for a particular period on making initial deposit and monthly charges.The policy has been approved under the broader vision of meeting the growing requirement for affordable housing, slum redevelopment and rehabilitation and rental housing, for which an initial target has been set for construction of 1 lakh dwelling units over the next five years.