The Assam Cabinet on 22nd March, 2023 took a major decision regarding delegation of power to the Deputy Commissioners of the districts for settlement of land in the municipal areas in favor of the beneficiaries of PMAY-U, fixation of quantum of land for settlement and rationalization of premium rates for settlement of land thereof.
The Pradhan Mantri AwasYojana – Urban (PMAY-U) – a flagship mission under the Govt. of India is being implemented across the state with an objective to ensure a pucca house to all eligible urban households (EWS/LIG/MIG) when Nation completes 75 years of its Independence. In order to realize the objective of the mission, it is envisaged to provide land to the landless beneficiaries of PMAYU across the state at an affordable rate of premium.
The Govt. of Assam in Department of Housing & Urban Affairs is working as a nodal authority in the state for implementation of the said scheme. In order to streamline the execution of the scheme within the stipulated period, DoHUA has initiated various steps. In the matter of landless indigenous beneficiaries across the state with special emphasis on Urban areas, DoHUA has moved a cabinet memorandum for providing land to those beneficiaries.
In this connection, on 24th November, 2021, the State Cabinet approved the proposal of the Department for extending the benefit under PMAY HFA (Urban) to indigenous landless persons who have been found to be in continuous occupation of Government land since or prior to 28th June 2011. The Cabinet also decided to amend the Land Policy–2019 in this connection.
Accordingly the notification was issued by R&DM department on 22nd December, 2021 amending the land policy vide Notification No RDM 15011(11)/152/2021 (Ecf 175835)/14 dated 22/12/2021. In this connection, Department of Housing & Urban Affairs (DoHUA) has viewed that the abovementioned notification issued in compliance with the decision of Cabinet on 24.11.2021 requires further simplification in the procedural part in order to extend the benefits on PMAY- HFA (U) to the indigenous landless people. Also, it is requested that the rate of premium to be paid for settlement needs to be rationalized considering the socio-economic status of the indigenous landless beneficiaries belonging to EWS/SC/ST/OBC/Tea garden workers/ex-tea garden communities etc.
DoHUA also sought cabinet approval for amendment of the earlier decision taken on 24.11.2021 regarding eligibility criteria, terms and condition for settlement of land in respect to PMAY-U house to be substituted with No Objection Certificate(NOC) to the eligible beneficiaries to be issued by Deputy Commissioner/SDO(Civil) of concerned districts/subdivisions for the purpose of availing PMAY-U benefit only. Finally, the meeting of the Cabinet on 22nd March, 2023 has arrived on the landmark decision to approve delegation of power to the Deputy Commissioners of districts, as a onetime measure till the completion of PMAY-U mission, for settlement of land to the landless indigenous beneficiaries of PMAY-U subject to fulfillment of conditions and other eligibility criteria and terms & conditions for settlement of land in towns shall remain the same as per Land Policy, 2019, provided the SDLAC may be informed in the next meeting A special rate of premium i.e., Rs.500/- may be realized as a token amount from each beneficiaries of PMAY-U against the land to be settled. The quantum of land to be settled to each beneficiaries of PMAY-U shall not be less than 03 (three) lessa and shall not exceed 5 (five) lessa in any case.