Chapter VI SHELTER
Chapter VI, Shelter, is official master plan guidance issued by the Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority that assesses housing need, demand and housing conditions in Chennai City and the Chennai Metropolitan Area. It uses Census of India data, including figures for 2001, to identify the gap between household growth and housing supply, the condition of building materials and the risks associated with vulnerable housing.
What the chapter covers
Chapter VI, Shelter, treats adequate housing as more than land and a building. It says standard housing also requires basic services such as water supply, sanitation and access roads. The chapter provides a framework for assessing housing conditions and preparing a metropolitan shelter strategy.
Housing need and demand
The Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority distinguishes between housing need and housing demand:
- Housing need is based on existing housing stock, the number of households, demolition of dilapidated or deteriorating structures, and replacement or conversion of katcha and slum structures.
- Housing demand depends on purchasing power, affordability, willingness to pay, access to housing finance, and the availability of affordable plots or flats.
- Housing demand is normally lower than housing need in a developing economy. A metropolitan housing policy therefore needs to consider both.
Housing conditions recorded
The Census of India figures presented for Chennai City and the Chennai Metropolitan Area show:
- In 2001, the Chennai Metropolitan Area had 16.19 lakh households and 15.83 lakh housing units.
- From 1991 to 2001, households grew annually by 3.69 percent, while housing units grew by 2.63 percent. The chapter identifies a significant housing requirement gap in 2001.
- About 92 percent of Chennai City houses had pucca walls made from brick, stone, concrete or other materials.
- About 75 percent had roofs made from pucca materials, about 15 percent used semi-pucca materials, and about 10 percent used katcha materials.
- The 93,701 units with katcha roofing were considered vulnerable to fire, particularly during summer. The chapter notes that fires in thatched slum areas could affect entire localities and sometimes cause casualties.
- Dilapidated or deteriorating units represented about 0.5 percent of total households.
Who may find it relevant
Chapter VI, Shelter, is relevant to housing planners, public authorities, property professionals and people assessing the wider housing situation in Chennai. It provides area-level evidence and planning concepts rather than requirements for approving or registering an individual property.
This summary is generated from the source document to help you find what is relevant. The PDF above is authoritative. For advice on your own property, use LandLens One or speak to a qualified professional.
Common questions
Does Chapter VI, Shelter, set rules for buying or registering a property?
No such rules are stated in the supplied chapter. It assesses housing need, demand, supply and physical housing conditions in Chennai City and the Chennai Metropolitan Area.
What does the chapter consider adequate housing?
Adequate housing includes not only land and a building, but also basic services such as water supply, sanitation and access roads.
Was there a housing shortage in the Chennai Metropolitan Area in 2001?
The chapter reports 16.19 lakh households and 15.83 lakh housing units in 2001, and describes the housing requirement gap that year as significant.
Why does the chapter highlight houses with katcha roofs?
It records 93,701 housing units with katcha roofing and says they were vulnerable to fire accidents, particularly during summer.
