Date:18/11/2006 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2006/11/18/stories/2006111807860400.htm

Andhra Pradesh - Hyderabad

Revised urban housing policy in place soon: Selja

Special Correspondent

Minister inaugurates two-day national conference on `Housing and human settlements'

Focus on FDI in townships, real estate, public-private partnerships

State to have nodal agency on urban infrastructure

HOUSING FOR ALL: Selja, Union Minister of State for Housing, sharing a lighter moment with Chief Minister Y. S. Rajasekhara Reddy at a meeting in Hyderabad on Friday. K. Jana Reddy, Home Minister, is also seen. Photo: P. V. Sivakumar

HYDERABAD: A revised `National Urban Housing and Habitat Policy, 2006', which will take into account the problems of housing and improved habitat for the urban poor and slum dwellers, is being worked out, Union Minister of State for Housing Selja announced here on Friday. A model act on urban street vending is being finalised to regulate street hawking activities, she said.

Inaugurating a two-day national conference on `Housing and human settlements', she said the policy proposed to promote FDI in integrated townships, real estate and public-private partnerships, among others.

She urged all States to prepare a medium to long-term slum development programme, as part of the city development plan to have slum-free cities. The Centre would extend all possible assistance to the States and urban local bodies in this endeavour.

Acute housing shortage

The Minister stated that according to latest estimates there would be a shortage of 24 million houses in urban areas in the beginning of the Eleventh Plan (2007-2012). Ninety-seven per cent of the shortage would be in LIG and EWS.

Later, she told reporters that there was encouraging response with regard to FDI. The Government wanted to encourage FDI so as to bring new technology into the country.

Chief Minister Y.S.Rajasekhara Reddy told the conference said the State Government was contemplating creating a nodal agency to deal with the provision of housing and basic infrastructure for the urban poor, including slum upgradation, in a holistic manner.

Dubious distinction

As a percentage of the total urban population, Andhra Pradesh was the second State after Maharashtra to have the highest number of slum dwellers. The strategy would be to mainstream the urban poor into overall development, by making them partners in the growth of cities and towns. The conference, organised by the Ministry of Housing and urban Poverty Alleviation, is being attended by Housing Ministers from 13 States.