The Punjab Government would construct one lakh houses for the economically weaker sections in the next three years. For the purpose, the State Government has urged the Centre that State-specific schemes, along with a special fund, be created to ensure its smooth delivery.
Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Badal made the announcement on Thursday while participating in the ‘Housing for All’ Conclave of the State Ministers of Housing and Urban Development at Vigyan Bhawan. Sukhbir, who also holds the housing portfolio, said that the State Government had made a social commitment to its people to construct one lakh houses for the weaker sections. “State has already created a land bank of 300 acres for this purpose and expected it to increase exponentially in the next one year,” said Sukhbir.
He said that as a part of policy, all developers in Punjab had to hand over five per cent of their gross area to the Government for development of housing for the EWS. “Punjab has already enacted a housing policy envisaging private partnership, so that committed housing could be built in stipulated time-frame,” he added.
Sukhbir proposed that Centre should create a special fund in which excise revenue collected from the sale of construction material could be deposited which could be transferred to the States for subsidizing housing for the weaker sections. Another proposal put forward by Sukhbir included exempting development authorities like GMADA and GlADA from payment of income tax. “Development authorities are contributing to urban development by creating much-needed infrastructure as well as housing for weaker sections and that income tax should not be levied on them,” he said.
Sukhbir also recommended that Centre should consider “reducing interest rates on affordable housing as inexpensive housing is the need of the hour. This single step would give an impetus to affordable housing projects in the entire country”.Taking up issues related to the States, Sukhbir suggested that the Centre should come up with State-specific schemes even in case of housing sector as each state had its specific needs.