Question : VACANT LAND IN URBAN AREAS

(a) whether the Union Government has given directions to the State Governments to identify unused vacant land in big cities for construction of houses;

(b) if so, the response of the State Governments including those from North-Eastern States in this regard;

(c) whether in view of high demand for housing in the country, the Government proposes to identify unused land and hand it over to the Local Development Agencies for building construction; and

(d) if so, the details thereof?

THE MINISTER OF HOUSING & URBAN POVERTY ALLEVIATION (KUMARI SELJA)

(a) to (d): No, Madam. The Government of India has not given any direction to the State Governments to identify unused vacant land in big cities for construction of houses and hand it over to the Local Development Agencies for building construction as ‘Land’ and ‘Colonisation’ being State subjects, it is for the State Governments to take initiatives in this regard.