Housing-for-all target lagging

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, July 28

The government’s ambitious plan of housing for all by 2022 is progressing modestly with only 40.44 per cent of sanctioned urban houses built in the last five years (FY 2016-17 to FY 2020-21).

The government on Wednesday informed Parliament that based on the project proposals submitted by states and UTs and their assessed demand, 113 lakh houses had been sanctioned under Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (Urban), which was implemented on June 25, 2016, and would go on till March 31, 2022.

“Against the total sanctioned houses, 84.4 lakh have been grounded for construction and over 50 lakh have been completed and delivered to beneficiaries. States and UTs have been advised to expedite the construction of sanctioned houses so that all houses are completed within the stipulated period,” MoS for Housing Kaushal Kishore said.

The ministry said 45,70,834 of total sanctioned houses had been constructed in five years. That comes to 40.44 per cent of the target. Of over 45 lakh houses built, 40,393 are in Punjab, 42,158 in Haryana, 5,180 in HP, 9,340 in J&K, 6,475 in Chandigarh and 359 in Ladakh.

In a related question on whether state governments had released the central assistance to eligible beneficiaries, the Centre said under the beneficiary-led individual house construction component, states and UTs are required to release central assistance along with state share within 15 days to implementing agencies, who should release funds to beneficiaries within 15 days.

At the national level, 75 per cent of central assistance sent to states has been released to beneficiaries. Percentage of funds released to beneficiaries is however lower than the national average in Punjab (53.8%), J&K (51.2%), Haryana (45.2%) and Uttarakhand 44.4%.

Of over 45 lakh houses constructed, 40,393 are in Pb, 42,158 in Haryana, 5,180 in HP, 9,340 in J&K