Private participation needed for affordable housing: Venkaiah Naidu

Housing and Urban Poverty Alleviation Minister M Venkaiah Naidu has urged private players to come forward and play an active role for achieving the goal of “Housing for all” by 2022. The minister stressed upon the need of private investment in providing affordable housing.

Presently the estimated shortage is of 18.78 million houses and nearly 2.34 million homes shall come up every year during the next eight years to address the issue.

Naidu said apart from helping in expanding the existing housing units stock, private investment will also improve the working and living conditions of the people.

Assuring the slum dwellers, he said, “Either houses will be constructed at the same place or you will be provided housing at other place. Before that no one will be ousted from their existing houses.”

Attacking the Opposition for blocking the Land Bill in the Rajya Sabha, the Minister said land is crucial and important component for construction of affordable houses.
Naidu said, “Our government is trying to amend the Land Bill 2013 because most of the states came forward and told Centre to amend the Bill as acquiring land is becoming an impossible task.”

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“But unfortunately some people are opposing it. Though they allowed acquiring of land for SEZ for commercial purpose, here they are opposing it. So you are opposing the development and not the government,” he added.

Referring to the Real Estate (Development and Regulation) Bill, Naidu said “it is for regulation and not for strangulation”.

Targeting the fly-by-night operators, he said, “The genuine real estate players need not worry. Because there are some black sheep in the trade who have brought the name into the industry, there is a requirement of the Bill.” The Bill was referred to a select committee of Parliament and the committee has submitted its recommendations for certain changes in the Bill provisions. It is expected to be taken up for consideration in the next session of Parliament.