Over 300 flats to be allotted to non-locals in J&K

The flats are at Jammu's Sunjwan, in the vicinity of major Industrial estates. The housing board has set May 15 as the last date for filing of online application for the allotment.

Jammu:The Jammu and Kashmir Housing Board will allot 336 economically weaker section (EWS) and low income group (LIG) flats to non-locals under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (Urban) mission here, officials said. The board has invited online applications from the people of the country, who have migrated to Jammu temporarily or permanently, for allotment of flats.

According to a public notice issued recently, the housing board has set May 15 as the last date for filing of online application for the allotment of 336 EWS and LIG flats at Sunjwan on the outskirts of Jammu under the Affordable Rental Housing Complexes' (ARHC) scheme. The scheme provides rental housing for EWS or LIG urban migrants including labourers, urban poor (street vendors, rickshaw pullers and other service providers), industrial workers, and migrants working with market or trade associations, educational/health institutions, hospitality sector, long term tourists or visitors, students or any other persons of such category.

Urban migrants/poor chose to live in informal settlements and shacks to save more from their daily earnings thereby compromising the basic necessities of housing. The site is suitably located at Sunjwan, in the vicinity of major Industrial estates Gangyal (5 kms) and Bari Brahmna (10 kms) radius, and approached through Chowadhi and Transport Nagar, Narwal, reads the notice.

The site is located in a developing area of Jammu suburbs provided with commercial establishment of daily needs, educational and health infrastructure. All building blocks are earthquake resistant and the layout comprises bedroom, living room, kitchen, toilet and bath, it states. The flats are available on a monthly rent of Rs 2,200 (per flat for a total carpet area of 290 sqft).

The notice said the period of rent agreement for flats will be made initially for a period of three years which will further be extendable for five years as per the need of the allottee subject to fulfilment of terms and conditions laid down in the agreement. As many as 96 units allotment will be made by April 30 followed by 112 units allotment by June 30, while the rest of the 128 units allotment will be made in the third phase by October 31.

Post COVID-19, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has given a clarion call for "Aatma Nirbhar Bharat" to promote economic activities. Aligned with this vision, the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs has initiated ARHCs with an aim at creating vibrant, sustainable and inclusive affordable rental housing avenues for urban migrants and poor by 'aggregation of their demand at a given site' with all civic amenities, according to the board.

J-K Housing Board, a semi-government, autonomous and statutory organisation, has so far developed and allotted more than 10,000 plots of different sizes in various colonies at Kashmir and Jammu divisions under self-financing schemes, it said. The housing colonies and flatted accommodation for EWS/LIG, Middle Income Group and High Income Group are mandated as per Act to be developed by the board not only in capital cities and district headquarters but also in rural areas.

The major housing projects presently undertaken are 760 EWS flats at Bhalwal, Jammu, development of Smart Township at Chatterhama in Ganderbal, development of colony/flatted accommodation at Bakoora in Ganderbal, flatted accommodation at Birpur, Samba, mega project at Gole Market Jammu, development of housing colony at Chak Bhalwal, Jammu, regularisation of satellite township at Chani Rama, Housing colony at Watapura, Bandipora and many more are in the pipeline, the board said.

As per the scheme, only EWS or LIG families with income not exceeding Rs 3 lakh (for EWS) and Rs 6 lakh (for LIG) per annum and presently residing in rented accommodation in and around Jammu city are eligible to apply for the flats. The applicant should mandatorily have Aadhaar and should submit proof of income, employment and pursuing education (for students) while applying for allotment of rental flats at Sunjwan, Jammu under ARHC, the notice said. (PTI)