(a) whether the Union Government is contemplating to amend the relevant rules of Valmiki Ambedkar Awas Yojana so as to ensure that benefits of this scheme reach the small towns located in the tribal areas;
(b) if so, the details thereof;
(c) whether the Union Government has received any proposal from the Government of Maharashtra in this regard; and
(d) if so, the details thereof?
MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) IN THE MINISTRY OF URBAN EMPLOYMENT & POVERTY ALLEVIATION ( KUMARI SELJA)
(a)&(b): The Ministry of Urban Employment & Poverty Alleviation has already initiated steps to modify the
guidelines of Valmiki Ambedkar Awas Yojana (VAMBAY), on the basis of suggestions received from the various
States/Union Territories.
(c)&(d): Yes, Sir. Suggestions/modifications in the guidelines for the implementation of VAMBAY received from
Maharashtra Housing and Area Development Authority (MHADA) are annexed.
ANNEXURE REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (c)&(d) OF LOK SABHA USQ.NO. 1785 FOR 15.3.2005
SUGGESTIONS/MODIFICATION IN THE GUIDELINES FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION OF VAMBAY RECEIVED FROM MAHARASHTRA
HOUSING AND AREA DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY (MHADA)
S.NO. SUBJECT BRIEF DETAILS
1. Unit Cost of the house > The cost of construction in Mumbai and its satellite cities is very high compared to the cost of construction in other cities and States. The highest slab of Rs.60,000/- is available only for Mumbai, while some other cities like Navi Mumbai, Thane, Kalyan etc., which are part of the Mumbai metropolitan Region not eligible for this rate.
> The ceiling cost for Humbai should be enhanced to Rs.80,000/- per unit and this should be made applicable to all the municipal corporations in the Metropolitan Region of Mumbai.
1.1 Difficult areas > The guidelines mention that in hilly and difficult, areas, the above ceiling may be enhanced by 12.5%. However, there is no definition of difficult area.
> In Haharashtra there are number of hutment colonies squatting along riverbeds, low lying areas which are subject on inundation during the rains, hutments located on black cotton soil and such other loose soil etc. Such areas could be termed as difficult areas as the cost of construction in such areas is high compared to other areas.
1.2 Cost of Toilet > Instead of construction community toilet of Rs.40,000/-, if Rs.40,000/- could be diverted towards construction of individual toilet in each house, the expenditure would be useful.
1.3 For Metropolitan > With the population more than 1 million the Cities the ceiling cost of a unit is Rs.50,000/-. In Maharashtra there are 6 cities having population over 1 million (based on the year 2001). Out of these cities, Government of India has permitted three cities to be included in the Metro cities, namely, Nagpur, Pune, and Nashik.
> Three other cities like Pimpri-Chinchvad, Kalyan-Dombivali and Thane which also fit in this norm are proposed to be considered.
1.4 For Mega Cities > Cities 1 ike Pune and Nagpur in Maharashtra may be included in `Mega City`.
2. Income Limit > Definition of BPL/EWS may be modified to cover families whose income is up to Rs.8,000/- p.m. for mega, cities, up to Rs.5,000/- in Metro cities.
3. Unit cost of toi let under Nirmal, Bharat Abhiyan > The cost of the toilet seat under Nirmal Bharat Abhiyan is limited to Rs.40,000/-. > In dense slums, there is no sewerage system to carry the sewage. In view of this,large septic tanks are reQuired to be constructed to treat the sewage in situ. This enhances the cost of toilet.
> In Mumbai, the present cost of construction of a toilet seat inclusive of septic tank works to Rs.60,000/- to Rs.65,000/-.
> For Mega Cities the cost of toilet be enhanced to Rs.65,OOO/-.
4. Present System > HUDCO`s Regional Unit may be delegated powers to of Approvals sanction proposal within the Government of India allocation as per approved guidelines.
5. Land Acquisition > There is no provision of land acquisition in VAMBAY. However, a large number of slums in Mumbai are located on private lands which need acquisition.
> A small portion of unit cost may be diverted towards land acquisition in such cases.