In an election year, the Maharashtra Government has decided to relax rules governing allotment of affordable homes for the economically poor. It will now allow owners of previously allotted vacant homes to submit an application under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY), making it easier for the kin of deceased to get allotment, and permitting those in the vicinity of Gaothan areas to apply for a dwelling. These are among the major changes made by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis in a meeting on Monday, officials said.
Under the Housing for All schemes — beneficiaries can apply for a “pucca” home with water connection, toilet, electricity and access to roads. The PMAY is being implemented in in 51 cities of the State. It has four components: slum rehabilitation, credit-linked subsidy, affordable housing in partnership and beneficiary-led individual house construction enhancement. Senior officials said under the scheme so far, 49 project proposals are being considered in 22 cities, which are likely to result in 1.19 lakh dwelling units for the Economically Weaker Section (EWS).
In the relaxations declared during the recent meeting, officials said Additional Chief Secretary, Housing, has agreed to allow owners who were previously alloted a unit under any scheme and which is now vacant, could reapply under the PMAY. “These would be eligible if their previous units under any schemes are in the A, B, C category of corporations and cities. We have asked the housing department to issue orders regarding this,” an official said. In the other decision it was agreed to consider near ones of the deceased allottee, if the property tax register reflects their name, to receive allotment earliest without delay. “In the urban areas we have decided to make the allotment proceedings easier for those whose near ones have died before getting possession under the PMAY.
Maharashtra has made little progress on delivery of 11 lakh affordable homes, credit-linked subsidy schemes, and in-situ rehabilitation through private participation using land as resources under various housing schemes by 2022. Recently, as per a report released by NGO Janhit Manch on PMAY performance, it was revealed that the target of 47,268 homes for 2018 was not achieved and not a single home was built during the past year under the PMAY. Despite formulation of a new housing body and policy for acquiring land, only an estimated 1,800 homes were built in 2018 under the Housing for All schemes. “So far the Government of India has approved 46 projects under the PMAY and already released a few instalments, the first being of ₹371 crore against 13 projects in Konkan, Akola, and Amravati,” the official said.
