Maharashtra Marching towards an All Inclusive Affordable Housing Plan

Maharashtra Marching towards an All Inclusive Affordable Housing Plan
Sanjay Kumar Additional Chief Secretary, Department of Housing, Government of Maharashtra

Maharashtra is progressing well on grounding and completion of the sanctioned houses. The progress of under construction houses or projects is being monitored through geo tagging. The City Level Technical Cell (CLTC) teams present at ULBs carryout this geo tagging in five different stages from starting to completion of house. It is being rigorously monitored at State & Centre level, says Sanjay Kumar, Additional Chief Secretary, Department of Housing, Government of Maharashtra in this interview with Harshal Desai of Elets News Network (ENN).

Maharashtra is implementing PMAY (U) scheme since its launch, Will you please brief us on the progress of the scheme so far?

Maharashtra is one of the top performing states in the country for implementation of PMAY (U) scheme. There are 390 Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) and eight Planning Authorities are notified for implementation of PMAY (U). Maharashtra is chasing its ambitious target of completing 19.4 lakh houses by 2022, among which more than 13.5 Maharashtra has also released subsidy of more than Rs 1,330 crore for the sanctioned projects to ULBs. The subsidy amount is being transferred directly to beneficiary’s bank account through Public Financial Management System (PFMS).

Along with sanctioning, Maharashtra is progressing well on grounding and completion of the sanctioned houses. The progress of under construction houses or projects is being monitored through geo tagging. The City Level Technical Cell (CLTC) teams present at ULBs carryout this geo tagging in five different stages from starting to completion of house. It is being rigorously monitored at State & Centre level.

Also, it is mandatory for all ULBs to enter Physical and Financial Progress of the project via Monthly Progress Report (MPR) in MIS. MPR is being tracked religiously by Ministry of Housing & Urban Affairs (MoHUA) and at state level to know the progress of each project.

Considering the slum rehabilitation under PMAY (U), Slum Rehabilitation Authority (SRA) has a major role to play in the success of PMAY (U). The state had decided to include SRA projects sanctioned post June 2015 to be included under PMAY (U). Therefore, more than 2.25 lakh houses from SRA projects are now part of PMAY (U). Also, considering the objective of ‘Housing for All’, Housing Dept, Government of Maharashtra (GoM) had issued a Government Resolution (GR) dated May 16, 2018, to rehabilitate the unprotected slums until January 1, 2011, as well under Slum Rehabilitation Act 1971 on cost basis.

How is the Private Participation shaping up in Affordable Housing under PMAY (U) in Maharashtra?

In order to increase private participation in PMAY (U), Housing Department has come up with two main schemes 1) Public Private Partnership (PPP) policy 2) Joint Venture (JV) policy.

Under Public Private Partnership (PPP) policy (launched in January 2018), interested developers on their own land can construct affordable housing in Maharashtra.

Under this policy, developers can construct Economically Weaker Section (EWS) (up to 30 sq.mt. carpet) and Lower Income Group (LIG) (up to 60 sq.mt. carpet) houses and sell it to eligible beneficiaries of PMAY (U). Government shall provide additional incentives to developers & beneficiaries like,

• 2.5 Floor Space Index (FSI) for Residential zone projects and one FSI for Green / NDZ zone projects

• Rs 2.5 lakh subsidy per EWS house

• Stamp duty at Rs.1,000 only per EWS and LIG DUs

• Joint Measurement Charges at 50 percent prevailing rate

• Exemption in Development charges.

PPP is one of the important schemes under PMAY (U) in Maharashtra; there are more than 2.5 lakh houses have been sanctioned under this scheme. Among which, the work has already started for few projects. Under Joint Venture Policy, land will be contributed by private partner and construction, designing, finance; lakh houses (as on November 2019) are already sanctioned by the State and Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MOHUA). This includes Credit Linked Subsidy (CLSS) beneficiaries of more than 1.76 lakh.

Maharashtra has also released subsidy of more than Rs 1,330 crore for the sanctioned projects to ULBs. The subsidy amount is being transferred directly to beneficiary’s bank account through Public Financial Management System (PFMS).

Along with sanctioning, Maharashtra is progressing well on grounding and completion of the sanctioned houses. The progress of under construction houses or projects is being monitored through geo tagging. The City Level Technical Cell (CLTC) teams present at ULBs carryout this geo tagging in five different stages from starting to completion of house. It is being rigorously monitored at State & Centre level.

Also, it is mandatory for all ULBs to enter Physical and Financial Progress of the project via Monthly Progress Report (MPR) in MIS. MPR is being tracked religiously by Ministry of Housing & Urban Affairs (MoHUA) and at state level to know the progress of each project.

Also Read: MahaHousing: Mega Projects to Strengthen Affordable Housing Mission

Considering the slum rehabilitation under PMAY (U), Slum Rehabilitation Authority (SRA) has a major role to play in the success of PMAY (U). The state had decided to include SRA projects sanctioned post June 2015 to be included under PMAY (U). Therefore, more than 2.25 lakh houses from SRA projects are now part of PMAY (U). Also, considering the objective of ‘Housing for All’, Housing Dept, Government of Maharashtra (GoM) had issued a Government Resolution (GR) dated May 16, 2018, to rehabilitate the unprotected slums until January 1, 2011, as well under Slum Rehabilitation Act 1971 on cost basis. lakh houses (as on November 2019) are already sanctioned by the State and Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MOHUA). This includes Credit Linked Subsidy (CLSS) beneficiaries of more than 1.76 lakh. allotment etc. shall be done by MHADA / MahaHousing. All the other incentives will remain same as above. Post completion of the project, the revenue/ area will be shared among landowner and MHADA/MahaHousing as per the formula defined in the GR dated September 11, 2019.

Also, in order to simplify the process of getting the building permissions and NOCs to start the project, Urban Development Department (UDD) has published a GR (TPB 4315/167/CR 51/2015/NV 11) dated May 23, 2018, permitting MHADA to exercise the powers of Planning Authority under the provisions of Chapter IV of the Maharashtra Regional and Town Planning Act 1966. Therefore, MHADA is acting as a Single Window Authority for issuing all the necessary building permissions and NOCs to start the project.

Housing Department has also signed Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with several Banks and Housing Finance Companies. Will you please educate us on its significance?

Credit Linked Subsidy (CLSS) is one of the crucial components of PMAY (U). Under CLSS, Interest subsidy is credited upfront to the loan account of beneficiaries through Primary Lending Institutions (PLI), resulting in reduced effective housing loan and Equated Monthly Installment (EMI). Maharashtra since the start of this scheme is always one of the top performers in implementation of CLSS. As on October 2019, Maharashtra is ranked second after Gujarat, with more than 1.75 lakh beneficiary benefitted through CLSS component. Among CLSS, Maharashtra ranks top in releasing subsidy to Middle Income Group (MIG) category.

Banks and NBFCs are key drivers of CLSS component on ground. Identifying this, Housing Department, GoM has signed MoUs with interested banks / NBFCs for promotion / awareness of CLSS component in Maharashtra. So far, Housing Department, GoM has signed MoU with 10 Banks / NBFCs. This includes, Axis Bank, HDFC Bank, Yes Bank, Awas Finance, Mahindra Home Finance, Muthoot Homefin, Tata Capital, IIFL, IndoStar Home Finance and Svatantra Micro Housing Finance. Housing Department is welcoming all interested Banks / NBFCs who are interested in joining this movement.

Please elaborate on Mahakamgar Awas Yojana launched under PMAY (U)?

MahaKamgar Awaas Yojana is envisaged to meet housing needs of construction workers registered under Maharashtra Building & Other Construction Workers Welfare Board. The scheme will support construction of houses for the beneficiaries’ up to 30 sqm carpet area with basic civic infrastructure like water, sanitation, sewerage, road, electricity etc. The beneficiaries of MahaKamgar.

Awas Yojana shall get additional subsidy of Rs 2 lakh, which is over and above of existing PMAY (U) subsidy of Rs 2.5 lakh. So, a total of Rs 4.5 subsidy per EWS house shall be given to beneficiary of MahaKamgar Awas Yojana. The validation of these beneficiaries will be done by Maharashtra Building & Other Construction Workers Welfare Board .

We would also like to understand Kushthpidit Awas Yojana that is launched in the state recently?

Mukhyamantri Kushthpidit Awas Yojana, is launched for Leprosy affected People to meet their housing needs, who do not own pucca houses. This scheme is a part of Pradhan Mantri Awaas Yojana (Urban), which aims at Housing for all. (GR dated 11th September 2019).

All the existing PMAY (U) scheme modalities will remain applicable under this scheme, including prevailing PMAY (U) guidelines of state and center. The beneficiary should have UIDD card as a proof of disability due to leprosy. Under this scheme, certified leprosy affected people shall receive additional subsidy of Rs 1.5 lakh which is over and above of Rs 2.5 lakh subsidy of State and Centre.

• If the affected person is from Scheduled Caste (SC) category, then additional subsidy of Rs 1.5 lakh will be given by Social Justice & Special Assistance Department, Government of Maharashtra.

• If the affected person is from Scheduled Caste (ST) category, then additional subsidy of Rs 1.5 lakh shall be given by Tribal Development Department, Government of Maharashtra.

• If the affected person is from any other category apart from SC & ST, then for such beneficiaries’ additional subsidy of Rs 1.5 lakh shall be given by MHADA through shelter fund.

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