Lok Sabha Question No. 3940 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-03-20
Subject: Smart Cities Mission
Ministry: HOUSING AND URBAN AFFAIRS
Asked by: (ADV.) JOICE GEORGE

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF HOUSING AND URBAN AFFAIRS LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3940 TO BE ANSWERED ON MARCH 20, 2018 SMART CITIES MISSION

No. 3940 ADV. JOICE GEORGE:

Will  the  Minister  of  HOUSING  AND  URBAN  AFFAIRS  be  pleased  to state:

- (a) whether the Government proposes to increase the allocation for the  Smart  Cities  Mission  by  54.22  per  cent  in  the  budget  for 2018-19 and if so, the details thereof;
- (b) whether  a  boom  in  the  construction  sector  in  the  country  is expected in the coming years and if so, the details thereof; and
- (c) the  steps  being  taken  by  the  Government  to  ensure  that construction  activities  do  not  violate  environmental  norms  as well as India's commitment to climate agreements and achievement of Sustainable Development Goals-2030?

## ANSWER

THE MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) OF THE

MINISTRY OF HOUSING AND URBAN AFFAIRS

(SHRI HARDEEP SINGH PURI)

- (a): During the Financial Year 2018-19, under Smart Cities Mission Rs.  6,000  crore  has  been  allocated  as  BE  which  is  50.39% increase  in  the  budget  against  BE  of  Rs.  3,989.50  crore allocated in Financial Year 2017-18.
- (b): The Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs is implementing the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (Urban) [PMAY(U)] to achieve the Government's  vision  of  'Housing  for  All  by  2022'.  The  total urban housing demand estimated so far by the States/UTs is approximately  12  Million.  Projects  are  sanctioned  based  on project proposals submitted by the State Governments. So far, a  total  40,64,899  houses  have  been  sanctioned.  In  order  to achieve the target of 'Housing for All by 2022', the Ministry of Housing  and  Urban  Affairs  has  requested  all  States/UTs,  to saturate  their  demand  of  houses  under  the  PMAY(U)  by  the year 2018-19 so that construction of all houses may progressively be completed by 2022.

Additionally, in order to enhance scope, coverage and outreach of the Scheme, following actions have been taken by Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs:

-  Carpet area of houses eligible for interest subsidy under Credit Linked  Subsidy  Scheme  for  Middle  Income  Group  has  been increased.
-  Various  fiscal  incentives  have  been  made  under  section  80IBA  of  the  Income  Tax  Act,  which  lead  100%  deduction  of profits and gains for Affordable Housing projects.
-  Coverage  under  PMAY  (Urban)  has  been  increased  to  include
- areas falling within notified Planning/Development area.
-  A National Urban Housing Fund for Rs. 60,000 crores has been set  up  in  Ministry  of  Housing  and  Urban  Affairs  for  raising Extra Budgetary Resources (EBR) in phases over four years for the rapid implementation of (PMAY) (U).
- (c): Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC) accords prior environmental clearance for projects or activities listed in the Schedule to the Environment lmpact Assessment  (ElA)  Notification.  2006  (and  its  amendments) after  having  followed  the  prescribed  process  in  the  said notification.  Violation  of  the  environmental  norms  issued  for developmental projects are monitored by the Regional Offices of MoEF&CC  and  the concerned State Pollution Control Boards/Union Territories Pollution  Control  Committees  or  any other concerned Central/State agencies. If any non-compliance is observed/ reported, the Ministry takes appropriate action as deemed fit as per Environment (Protection) Act, 1986. Section 3 of the Environment (Protection) Act 1986 gives power to the Central  Government  to  take  all  measures  that  it  deems necessary  or  expedient  for  the  purpose  of  protecting  and improving  the  quality  of  the  environment  and  preventing  and controlling abating environmental pollution.

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