From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network

Bangalaore, Jan 22: Karnataka chief minister B S Yeddyurappa will be unveiling a new housing policy for the state on February 15.

The new policy will be aimed at providing housing to all families living in huts in the next few years, according to Karnataka’s  Housing, Information Technology and Biotechnology Minister Katta Subramanaya Naidu.

Talking to reporters after holding detailed pre-budget discussions with the chief minister, Naidu said the government was keen to tackle the lack of housing all over the state, especially in the backward regions.

The chief minister, who is also the finance minister, has promised to provide sufficient funds to provide a fillip to the housing sector in the forthcoming state budget for the year 2010-11

According a survey conducted by the Rajiv Gandhi Housing Corporation, about 4.08 lakh families have been residing in huts across the State. There was a 10 % annual growth in the homeless families, the minister said pointing out that the number was expected to reach 4.5 lakh in the next two-three years.

The government has decided to build 1.5 lakh houses under the Indira Awas Yojana each year from 2010-11 and the cost of each house would be raised from Rs 40,000 to Rs 63,324.

The minister estimated that a sum of Rs 900 crore would be required to construct 1.5 lakh houses each year.

The government would mobilise Rs 400 crore under the High Power Committee for Implementation of the Recommendations of the Nanjundappa Panel on Regional Imbalances with the Centre expected to pump in Rs 264 crore.

To provide housing for economically weaker sections (EWS), the government has proposed to build houses costing Rs 1.10 lakh each both in rural and urban areas.

The lead banks in each district would be asked to disburse loans to self-help groups of beneficiaries while the Karnataka Housing Board (KHB) would provide subsidy of Rs 35,000 to each beneficiary. The state government would provide grants of Rs 10,000 to each house and the beneficiary have to contribute an equal amount, which could be paid in five instalments, Naidu said.

Under the new policy, 21 % of the houses would be allotted to Scheduled Tribes and Scheduled Castes, 3 % for physically challenged and rest would be allocated for EWS families, he said.

The KHB has proposed to develop 2 lakh housing sites in 2010-11 in different parts of the State and construct 1 lakh houses.

The farmers who provide lands for construction of houses would be given 35 per cent of the developed land, he said.

The minister said 1.78 lakh houses were constructed till November last under the Ashraya scheme against 2.94 lakh houses in 2008-09.