Poll dates any day, UPA clears building of 1 million houses

The UPA government today cleared a scheme to build a million “affordable” houses across the country over four years to bridge the glaring gap in home-ownership and kick start the sputtering economy. The scheme — to be notified next month — was cleared today, barely days before the Election Commission is expected to notify the elections and bring the code of conduct into effect.

A meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) gave the go ahead for construction of a million houses in partnership with the private sector over the next four years.

The scheme, though targeted at housing for middle and low-income families, will also have 2.5 lakh houses for the economically weaker section (EWS).

The houses will have a plinth area of 300-1,200 sq ft and will be sold at a predetermined price that is expected to be lower than the market price.

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Rush to open IITs is a disaster: Prime Minister Science Advisor

In its hurry to boost higher education before elections, the Centre has pushed through six new IITs, setting up some in infrastructure challenged temporary campuses, and packing others into existing IIT complexes. It is a “disastrous” move, feels Prof C N R Rao, head of the Prime Minister’s Scientific Advisory Council.

“There was no proper discussion on this issue. Things could have been planned better. It took over 50 years to make IITs what they are today. After all it’s not like opening primary schools. These are institutes of excellence that have international standing. I am very upset that eight new IITs have been announced for implementation at one go. In July, I had written to the PM as well as the HRD Ministry and have made my views known to the PM when I met him later,” Rao said. He added that the move would bring down the brand value of the IITs.

Of the eight new IITs, six have started functioning in the current academic session in Bihar, Andhra Pradesh, Rajasthan, Orissa, Gujarat and Punjab. For the time being, IIT Rajasthan, Punjab and Orissa will operate from existing IIT campuses in Kanpur, Delhi and Mumbai. IIT Patna and IIT Gandhinagar will function out of temporary campuses.

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