The Houses in Kerala would rather cost lesser, if the state government instituted proper measures to rein in the various problems facing this hot sector. Some of the most appropriate measures that would effect a major change are:
(i) It is necessary to amend cooperative laws so that cooperatives and voluntary organizations could function efficiently and help in cutting down the cost of house construction especially for the newer building projects.
(ii) Changes in the Rent Control Act and elimination of legal hurdles and controls that inhibit housing in the private sector could go a long way in increasing the involvement of formal and informal private sectors in the housing development process.
(iii) The industrial sector should be encouraged to make investments in the housing sector for industrial workers for which appropriate fiscal incentives should be given. It is also necessary to evolve suitable mechanisms to channelise the accumulated savings of employees and workers in the organized sector in the form of provident fund, gratuity fund, group insurance fund, etc.
(iv) Large-scale composite development is another role which private sector can play in speeding up the developments in the urban housing sector. Minimum assemblage of land for developing colonies could be done from a minimum of hundred acres onwards, depending upon the population of the city/town.
(v) Housing and Urban Development Corporation (HUDCO) and Ministry of Urban Development (HUD) are also thinking in terms of promoting joint sector companies specially for putting up new townships and for developing growth centers. This is a very pragmatic approach and opens up new areas of private involvement in urban housing.
(vi) A partnership/consortium approach between the public and private agencies will handle urban renewal more efficiently.
(i) It is necessary to amend cooperative laws so that cooperatives and voluntary organizations could function efficiently and help in cutting down the cost of house construction especially for the newer building projects.
(ii) Changes in the Rent Control Act and elimination of legal hurdles and controls that inhibit housing in the private sector could go a long way in increasing the involvement of formal and informal private sectors in the housing development process.
(iii) The industrial sector should be encouraged to make investments in the housing sector for industrial workers for which appropriate fiscal incentives should be given. It is also necessary to evolve suitable mechanisms to channelise the accumulated savings of employees and workers in the organized sector in the form of provident fund, gratuity fund, group insurance fund, etc.
(iv) Large-scale composite development is another role which private sector can play in speeding up the developments in the urban housing sector. Minimum assemblage of land for developing colonies could be done from a minimum of hundred acres onwards, depending upon the population of the city/town.
(v) Housing and Urban Development Corporation (HUDCO) and Ministry of Urban Development (HUD) are also thinking in terms of promoting joint sector companies specially for putting up new townships and for developing growth centers. This is a very pragmatic approach and opens up new areas of private involvement in urban housing.
(vi) A partnership/consortium approach between the public and private agencies will handle urban renewal more efficiently.
