Latest news with #SchemeforSpecialAssistancetoStatesforCapitalInvestment
Time of India
24-06-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Wayanad landslides: State diverts disaster relief fund for rehabilitation project
Thiruvananthapuram: The latest govt order on the rehabilitation project for the July 2024 Wayanad landslide victims at Elstone Estate shows money from the Chief Minister's Distress Relief Fund (CMDRF), raised specifically for the disaster, is being treated as a stopgap arrangement, to be recouped later from the National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF). Tired of too many ads? go ad free now This questions the objective behind collecting Rs 765.06 crore in public donations, as the money is not used directly for distress relief. Over 700 families displaced by the landslides are awaiting permanent homes. "Given the urgency, GoK is advancing R and R (rehabilitation and resettlement) using CMDRF and other available funds. Upon sanction and release of NDRF funds, corresponding amounts should be recouped to CMDRF, based on a prior decision by SEC (state executive committee) to avoid audit objections," states the order, dated June 17, 2025. This is an admission that using CMDRF for construction work could trigger audit objections even if recovered later, as the fund is strictly intended for immediate distress relief for affected persons. The govt has effectively diverted donations solicited in the name of Wayanad disaster victims for land purchase and contractor payments. Its plan for the amount mobilised also comes under a cloud, especially when the township being developed has a cost estimate of Rs 351.48 crore and the Centre has already sanctioned Rs 529.50 crore under the Scheme for Special Assistance to States for Capital Investment (SASCI). Several components of the township project are already being implemented using SASCI funds. Documents accessed by TOI show that only Rs 36.81 crore — a mere 4.8% of the amount raised — was spent from CMDRF so far. Of this, Rs 26.56 crore went for land acquisition at Elstone Estate, Rs 7.65 crore for general relief, Rs 2.1 crore for education support to orphaned children and Rs 50 lakh for interim rental assistance. This means only Rs 10.25 crore, or 1.34% of the funds, reached households directly. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now With about 700 affected families, this translates to an average disbursement of Rs 1.46 lakh per family, though nearly Rs 11 lakh is notionally available per family from the CMDRF pool. Interestingly, the administrative sanction for the township project came only in June 2025, and the technical sanction is still pending. However, files show that ULCCS (Uralungal Labour Contract Cooperative Society) was appointed as the contractor in Jan 2025, before the site was finalised or cost estimates were made. The land acquisition itself was sanctioned on Jan 15, 2025. This sequence of decisions, bypassing standard procurement protocols, leaves the chances of NDRF reimbursement bleak. According to NDRF norms, only post-disaster emergency relief approved under specific heads qualifies for central funding. Projects that skip due process or violate Central Vigilance Commission (CVC) guidelines are unlikely to pass muster with the Centre. Also, CMDRF guidelines do not cover advance capital spending, land acquisition or township projects.
The Hindu
26-05-2025
- Business
- The Hindu
Centre's reform nudge to States resulting in less land wastage, increased digitisation
The Centre's attempts to nudge States into implementing land and industrial reforms have resulted in a reduction in land wastage and a sharp jump in digitisation of land records, data from the Finance Ministry show. The Centre, in 2020, launched the Scheme for Special Assistance to States for Capital Investment, under which it provided States 50-year interest-free loans for capital investment. While a portion of these loans were untied, a significant part was made available to the States only if they undertook particular reforms relating to road construction, digitisation, optical fibre installation, urban reforms, and disinvestment and monetisation. In the first year, the scheme was capped at ₹12,000 crore worth of loans, which has grown over the years to ₹1,50,000 crore in 2025-26. According to data shared by the Finance Ministry, 22 States have carried out reforms in building bye laws for industrial and commercial plots. Of these, 18 States have reduced land wastage in factory plots due to outdated setbacks and parking regulations to less than 30%. Previously, companies had to dedicate about half of their factory land to parking space and setbacks, which are buffer areas between the factory and the boundary wall. By updating these regulations, states have managed to reduce this land wastage. In addition, the data show 12 States have doubled the built-up area permitted for flatted factories (multi-storey industrial buildings), and eight States have increased their Floor Area Ratio (FAR) for commercial buildings. Notably, the information shared also shows that 90% of cadastral maps — showing details of land ownership boundaries — have been digitised. Additionally, 30% of land parcels (22 crore out of 76 crore) have been assigned Unique Land Parcel Identification Numbers (ULPIN) so far, and 91% of the Records of Rights (35 crore out of 38 crore) have been digitised.
Time of India
23-05-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Centre to consider Bengaluru metro phase-2, 3A proposals: Housing minister
BENGALURU : Union Minister of Housing and Urban Affairs and Power Manohar Lal Khattar on Friday said the Centre will examine Bangalore Metro Phase-2 and 3A proposals after they receive approval from the Karnataka government. He reviewed the progress of various urban initiatives in Bengaluru and urged the state government to prioritise legacy waste management and tap Scheme for Special Assistance to States for Capital Investment (SSASCI) 2025-26 for Urban Reforms. Expressing satisfaction over the progress of various missions, the Union Minister said the revised cost of Bangalore Metro Phase-2 project will be considered once the proposal is approved by the state cabinet. "At present about 75 km of metro network is operational in Bengaluru and about 145 km of metro network is under construction. Recently, a few months back, the central government sanctioned 45 km of metro phase-3 network at a cost of Rs 15,600 crore," an official statement said. According to the statement, the state government has submitted the proposal for Bangalore phase-3A, covering approximately 37 kms. The estimated cost is about Rs 28,400 crore. The cost estimate of phase-3 A network needs to be examined by the expert agency. The Centre has already issued directions in this regard. "The project will be sanctioned by the central government, once reply is received from the government of Karnataka," he said. Khattar further urged the state government to address the issue of legacy waste management and promote reuse of water and sustainability. He also emphasised allowing higher FAR (Floor Area Ratio) along mass transit corridors, which will reshape cities, reduce traffic congestion and improve use of public transport. "During the discussion on fund requirement of the State, over and above the approved schemes of the Government of India, Union Minister encouraged the state to take up the reforms to claim the 50 years interest-free loan under the 'Scheme for Special Assistance to States for Capital Investment (SSASCI) 2025-26'," the statement added.
Time of India
23-05-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Centre to consider Bangalore Metro Phase-2, 3A proposals: Union Minister Manohar Lal Khattar
Union Minister of Housing and Urban Affairs and Power Manohar Lal Khattar on Friday said the Centre will examine Bangalore Metro Phase-2 and 3A proposals after they receive approval from the Karnataka government . He reviewed the progress of various urban initiatives in Bengaluru and urged the state government to prioritise legacy waste management and tap Scheme for Special Assistance to States for Capital Investment (SSASCI) 2025-26 for Urban Reforms . Expressing satisfaction over the progress of various missions, the Union Minister said the revised cost of Bangalore Metro Phase-2 project will be considered once the proposal is approved by the state cabinet. "At present about 75 km of metro network is operational in Bengaluru and about 145 km of metro network is under construction. Recently, a few months back, the central government sanctioned 45 km of metro phase-3 network at a cost of Rs 15,600 crore," an official statement said. According to the statement, the state government has submitted the proposal for Bangalore phase-3A, covering approximately 37 kms. The estimated cost is about Rs 28,400 crore. The cost estimate of phase-3 A network needs to be examined by the expert agency. The Centre has already issued directions in this regard. "The project will be sanctioned by the central government, once reply is received from the government of Karnataka," he said. Khattar further urged the state government to address the issue of legacy waste management and promote reuse of water and sustainability. He also emphasised allowing higher FAR ( Floor Area Ratio ) along mass transit corridors, which will reshape cities, reduce traffic congestion and improve use of public transport. Live Events "During the discussion on fund requirement of the State, over and above the approved schemes of the Government of India, Union Minister encouraged the state to take up the reforms to claim the 50 years interest-free loan under the 'Scheme for Special Assistance to States for Capital Investment (SSASCI) 2025-26'," the statement added.
Hindustan Times
01-05-2025
- Business
- Hindustan Times
GDA eases industrial buildings' FAR norms to boost growth
The Ghaziabad Development Authority (GDA) has approved a comprehensive set of amendments to the 2008 building bylaws aimed at stimulating industrial growth through capital-intensive projects. The revised rules offer greater ground coverage, higher floor area ratios (FAR), and relaxed setback norms for micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs), officials said. 'The amended bylaws have relaxed the rules for ground coverage and also provide for more FAR for development,' said Rudresh Shukla, the authority's media coordinator. 'The new bylaws will pave the way for more planned development and have been adopted in line with the Centre's 'Scheme for Special Assistance to States for Capital Investment',' Shukla added. Under the new provisions, ground coverage has been increased from 55%-60% to 65%-80%, while FAR has been revised from 1.0–1.5 to 1.5–2.0. FAR is the ratio of total floor area to plot area, allowing for greater vertical construction. Units on plots up to 500 sqm will now get 80% ground coverage. Larger plots also benefit—for instance, plots of 10,000 sqm and above will get 65% coverage, up from 55%, officials said. Additionally, flatted factories and MSMEs in new or undeveloped areas will be eligible for 1.0 additional purchasable FAR over the permissible limit. Officials said that setback norms have also been eased—now ranging from 2 to 12 metres for buildings up to 12.5 metres high, instead of the earlier 3 to 15 metres. The GDA officials said that the amendments are meant to boost set up of micro, small and medium units which are established after necessary compliances and NOCs. 'The Master Plan/zonal plans provide for a specific areas development of residential, industrial, green facilities etc., So, there is planned development of such land uses. The amendments provide for more ease of development, and regulations and enforcement mechanisms are already in place,' Shukla added. Additionally, setback requirements have been eased. Previously, setbacks ranging from 3 to 15 metres were mandatory depending on the building height. The new rules reduce this range to 2 to 12 metres, applicable for buildings up to 12.5 metres in height—paving the way for extended construction. 'The set of bylaws was put up before the GDA board during the last board meeting held in March. Now, the bylaws have been finally approved and adopted by the authority,' Shukla said. The members of the industrial associations said that the amendments will pave way for more vertical expansion. 'The land availability is limited nowadays, and the amendments will help units to go more vertical. With stringent pollution norms in NCR, and regulations in place, the units are nowadays adopting modern and advanced technologies so that they can operate out of limited setup. So, these amendments will surely help to attract more of micro, small and medium units and will also be a source of employment,' said Rakesh Aneja, divisional chairman (Meerut chapter) of Indian Industries Association.
