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State to earmark 20-25 p.c. of land for EWS in housing projects

BHUBANESWAR: The State government has in-principle approved the earmarking of at least 20 to 25 per cent of developed land for economically weaker section and low income group people in all housing projects being developed by public and private agencies. Chief Secretary B. K. Patnaik recently wrote to Union Ministry of Urban Development that the earmarking of 20 to 25 per cent of land for EWS would be done with a system of cross subsidisation.

He pointed out that Bhubaneswar Development Authority (BDA) had already reserved at least 15 per cent of the housing units developed in any integrated township for EWS or LIG category.

“Regulations of other development authorities are being amended accordingly,” Chief Secretary said. It is to be noted that with prices of land skyrocketing in most urban centres of the State, EWS or Low Income Group families find it very difficult to afford buying a space for them. Acute shortage of housing has already hit the LIG category badly in Bhubaneswar. As per Comprehensive Development Plan prepared by IIT Kharagpur, need for dwelling units for people is likely to go beyond 4 lakh-mark by 2030. The city is currently having a backlog of 15000 dwelling units. The gap between number of dwelling units and need is widening every passing day. But when it comes to families belonging to EWS or LIG owning house, it becomes beyond their reach. A one bed-room house with a housing size of 500 sq ft comes around Rs. 9 to Rs. 10 lakh which not many LIG families could afford.

Similar situation is prevailing in other big urban centres like Cuttack, Berhampur, Sambalpur and Rourkela where slums are growing due to absence of affordable houses for low income group.

According to government sources, housing needs for EWS and LIG would be kept in mind while preparing CDP for other urban centres in near future.

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