CHENNAI: Funds under Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY) for building homes for poor in Tamil Nadu could be delayed if the State fails to validate applications received under the PMAY-MIS portal.
According to official sources, release of funds under PMAY-Urban is linked to completion of entries in PMAY-MIS portal.
As on date 6.28 lakh online applications have been received from Common Service Centres (CSC) located in urban areas of the State and 1.95 lakh from PMAY-MIS portal.
It is learnt that the Prime Minister’s Office, which is monitoring the applications, has asked the State government to ensure completion of all project-related entries in PMAY-MIS portal urgently to ensure release of funds under the scheme.
Official sources said of the 8.23 lakh applications received under CSC and PMAY-MIS, only 91,185 have of been validated of which only 294 have been included in projects as beneficiaries.
Sources also indicated that there is a large gap in the number of applications received through CSC and PMAY-MIS portal, so validation is necessary for inclusion of eligible applicants.
Official sources said the housing secretary has asked the managing director of slum clearance board to ensure completion of all project-related entries under PMAY-MIS.
Tamil Nadu has carried a demand assessment of 8.30 lakh houseless households in urban areas of the State under PMAY’s four components - in situ rehabilitation, credit-inked subsidy scheme, beneficiary lead construction and affordable housing in partnership.
As on date, the State has obtained sanction of 3.29 lakh houses from the Centre under PMAY under the Credit Linked Subsidy Scheme (CLCC), Affordable Housing in Partnership scheme and Beneficiary Led Construction scheme.
The State Government is seeking approval for constructing 2.01 lakh houses during 2017-18 and the project cost works out to Rs 7,078.61 crore.
Sources indicated that the State government is looking to implement two of the components under PMAY. These include Affordable Housing in Partnership and Beneficiary led construction.
Under the Affordable Housing in Partnership scheme, the Centre will provide a grant of Rs 1.6 lakh for slum dwellers while the State will provide Rs 5 lakh. Sources said that the slum clearance board is planning to attract private developers to build houses for slum dwellers by marketing special transferable development rights to private builders.
Under the beneficiary led construction, those living in kutcha or semi-pucca houses in urban areas with land tenure will be provided Rs 2.10 lakh grant (Union government Rs 1.5 lakh and State government Rs 60,000) to construct houses on their own. The balance cost is to be borne by the beneficiaries.