New Rent Act pro-tenant: Jain

AUGUST 2: Housing Minister Suresh Jain today admitted that the new draft Bill for the Rent Control Act is pro tenant. Continuing in his c...

AUGUST 2: Housing Minister Suresh Jain today admitted that the new draft Bill for the Rent Control Act is pro tenant. Continuing in his candid mood he further said, “A majority of the members of the joint select committee were MLAs from the island city where most of the old tenanted buildings exist.”

Speaking at a seminar on `Housing Policy for the New Millenium’, Jain said he had no control over the appointment of members to the select committee which drafted the new Rent Act.

“A further delay by even a single day in launching the scheme will be harmful for the city as it will widen the gap between the haves and have nots,” Jain noted. His announcement comes in the wake of a five-member panel headed by the Chief Minister set up to review the scheme. However, the panel which has met thrice is yet to submit its report.

Story continues below this ad

Jain strongly supported the housing industry’s demand for abolition of the Urban Land Ceiling (and Regulation) Act (ULCRA) but admitted that political will was “lacking.”

Otherspeakers at the seminar included noted builder Niranjan Hiranandani, Kiran Wadhwa, chief economist, HUDCO, New Delhi, Deepak Shetwalkar, Managing Director, HDFC, B R Bhattad, executive president, Property Owners’ Association and Vilas Avachat, president, MHADA. The meet was presided over by former IMC president, Atul Bhagwati.

Bhattad urged the government to grant `industry’ status to housing and construction activity enabling it to avail of loans by private sector banks. Hiranandani called for a decontrol of the housing sector from the “plethora of legislations like, rent control, ULCRA, density control and Floor Space Index restrictions.”

In her speech, Wadhwa suggested that government should also concentrate on strengthening the urban infrastructure while carrying out housing programmes and stressed on the need for more rental housing.

Premji said that Wipro would partner with the Government "to find a lasting solution for Bengaluru's mobility challenges".

Wipro rejects Karnataka Govt request to allow public vehicles inside Sarjapur campus

Cities8 hr ago

Wipro, a leading company in Bengaluru, has refused to allow public vehicles inside its Sarjapur campus to ease traffic congestion. However, they have agreed to finance a study to find a solution for the traffic problem. The founder, Azim Premji, believes that the issue is complex and requires expert analysis. Wipro has also committed to funding a significant portion of the study's cost.

View all shorts

Live Blog

PHOTOS