Centre released Rs 50 cr for housing scheme

Amaravati: The construction of 1.2 lakh houses for poor in the state may begin soon under the mission ‘Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana-Housing for all (urban)’ (PMAY- HFA(U) as the Union government released around Rs 50 crore to the state towards the first instalment of Central assistance for the financial year 2016-17.

The state government accorded administrative sanction to utilize Rs 49.64 crore as supplementary grant during current 2017-18. The Central and the state governments will provide Rs 1.5 lakh each per house. 

APTIDCO will be the nodal agency to impliment the scheme.As per the request of APTIDCO managing director, the Finance Department issued budget release order of Rs 49.64 crore on Friday.

There are two types of units under the PMAY- HFA (U) for economically weak sections (EW). 

Under EW-1, the  minimum capital area required is 27 square metres and the income eligibility is Rs 1.2 lakh per year. 

For EW-2 type, it is up to 30 square metres and the annual income is stipulated between Rs 1.21 lakh and Rs 3 lakh.

The subsidies of Central government under PMAY of Rs 1.5 lakh or around Rs 2.3 lakh which are given under EWS and LIG (Lower Income Group) are also applicable for the PMAY- HFA (U) projects. 

The rates fixed by MAUD of around Rs 1,900, Rs 1,800 and Rs 1,700 per sq ft depend on extent of houses and will be a huge burden for the poor. They should repay between Rs 2.9 lakh and Rs 4 lakh for bank loan amount and also to spend between Rs 50,000 and Rs 1 lakh on their own.

Vijayawada Municipal Corporation built houses in June at the rate of Rs 1,358 per sq ft, the total unit cost was Rs 3.52 lakh (for 250.2 sq ft). A senior builder opined that the unit cost may not exceed Rs 1,500 even by using Monolithic Technology. Repayment of huge amounts can be a burden to the poor and the objective should not be affected.