SRINAGAR: The Jammu and Kashmir government on Saturday informed the Assembly that Economically Weaker Section (EWS) flats are being provided to eligible houseless and landless families with an annual household income of up to Rs 3 lakh under the Affordable Housing in Partnership (AHP) vertical of the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana–Urban 2.0 (PMAY-U 2.0).
The government stated that land is being identified by respective District Administrations for development of EWS housing projects across all 20 districts of the Union Territory.
In District Jammu, two major projects have been approved under the AHP vertical. At Bhalwal, 760 EWS flats have been sanctioned at a total project cost of Rs 115.90 crore, to be implemented by the Jammu and Kashmir Housing Board (JKHB). At Lower Roop Nagar, 208 flats have been approved at a cost of Rs 26.208 crore, to be executed by the Jammu Development Authority (JDA). Together, 968 EWS flats have been sanctioned in the district under PMAY-U 2.0.
The government clarified that eligible EWS beneficiaries from Akhnoor and Jourian towns, as well as other municipalities including Jammu Municipal Corporation in Jammu district, can avail the benefits of these projects at Bhalwal and Lower Roop Nagar, subject to fulfillment of prescribed eligibility criteria under PMAY-U 2.0.
Providing details of applications received under PMAY-U 2.0, the government said that in Akhnoor, a total of 64 applications were received, including 57 under the Beneficiary-Led Construction (BLC) vertical and 7 under AHP. Of these, 21 applicants were found eligible, 31 were rejected and 12 applications remain pending. So far, three houses have been sanctioned in Akhnoor.
In Jourian, 88 applications were received, all under the BLC vertical. Of these, six were found eligible, 77 were rejected and four were withdrawn. One application remains pending, and five houses have been sanctioned. No applications were received under the AHP vertical in Jourian.
The government also placed on record the progress under PMAY-Urban Mission 1.0 in the two towns. In Akhnoor, 79 houses were sanctioned, of which 73 have been completed, with funds amounting to Rs 125.98 lakh released. In Jourian, 139 houses were sanctioned and 121 completed, with Rs 206.37 lakh released.
The government reiterated that EWS housing projects under PMAY-U 2.0 are aimed at providing affordable housing to eligible low-income families across the Union Territory.
