Guwahati: The Assam Cabinet has made a significant decision to delegate power to Deputy Commissioners (DCs) of districts to settle land in municipal areas for beneficiaries of the Pradhan Mantri AwasYojana - Urban (PMAY-U). The scheme aims to provide affordable housing to eligible urban households, with the Department of Housing & Urban Affairs responsible for its implementation in Assam.

To streamline the execution of the scheme, the department has taken several steps, including providing land to landless indigenous beneficiaries in urban areas. The cabinet has approved the extension of PMAY HFA (Urban) benefits to indigenous landless individuals continuously occupying government land since or prior to 28th June 2011. Additionally, the Land Policy-2019 has been amended to facilitate this extension.

Assam has received Rs. 1233.94 Cr as Central Share (CS) and Rs. 521.98 Cr as corresponding State Share (SS) for the PMAY-U mission, with approval for 1,57,420 dwelling units to date from the Government of India's MoHUA.

The Department of Housing & Urban Affairs has requested the cabinet to simplify the procedural part of the notification issued on 22nd December 2021 and rationalize the premium rate for settlement. The department has also sought approval to amend the eligibility criteria, terms and conditions for land settlement. Eligible beneficiaries will receive a No Objection Certificate (NOC) from the Deputy Commissioner/SDO (Civil) of the relevant districts/subdivisions for availing PMAY-U benefits only.

This decision is a one-time measure until the completion of the PMAY-U mission. The settlement of land to landless indigenous beneficiaries of PMAY-U will be subject to fulfillment of conditions and eligibility criteria. The terms and conditions for land settlement in towns will remain the same as per the Land Policy-2019. Each PMAY-U beneficiary will receive a minimum of three and a maximum of five lessa of settled land, with a special premium rate of Rs. 500/- to be paid as a token amount.

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