By IANS
New Delhi : India needs to revise its rent control acts and urban land ceiling laws while empowering local bodies to provide housing and related urban infrastructure to its rapidly increasing city dwellers, the Economic Survey for 2007-08 said.
The annual economic report card said that the government was not only responsible for carrying out detailed land planning but also providing connectivity, drainage, sanitation and other civic amenities.
The survey has also called for necessary policy reform to encourage private participation in urban housing development.
India’s urban population, presently 28 percent of the total, will grow to about 40 percent of the total by 2021.
The survey said that total infrastructure development was critical for meeting the increasing demand for urban housing and business premises.
To improve urban infrastructure, the government has sanctioned Rs.252 billion ($6.3 billion) for 279 projects in 51 cities by January 2008.