G.O. (Ms.) No. 194, Formation of Housing Policy Committee

What the government approved

Government Order (Ms.) Number 194, dated 16 December 2019, records the approval of the Housing and Urban Development Department of the Government of Tamil Nadu for a Housing Policy Committee. The committee is responsible for periodically discussing the draft Tamil Nadu Urban Housing and Habitat Policy with a consultant engaged by the World Bank team and supporting finalisation of that policy.

The committee was proposed by the Joint Managing Director of the Tamil Nadu Slum Clearance Board. Its creation followed discussions concerning World Bank financing for the Tamil Nadu Housing and Habitat Development Project.

Project and policy background

The Tamil Nadu Slum Clearance Board had applied to the World Bank for financing towards the cost of the Tamil Nadu Housing and Habitat Development Project. During a World Bank preparation mission in Chennai, the financing method was changed from Investment Project Financing to Development Policy Financing.

The document explains that Development Policy Financing provides rapidly disbursing budget support against prior actions and triggers involving policy reform or institutional action. Formulation and approval of a State Urban Housing and Habitat Development Policy was identified as one of the prior actions for the Housing and Urban Development Department.

Committee membership

Government Order (Ms.) Number 194 gives the committee the following composition:

• The Principal Secretary, Housing and Urban Development Department, as Chairperson.
• The Member Secretary, Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority.
• The Managing Director, Tamil Nadu Housing Board.
• The Managing Director, Tamil Nadu Slum Clearance Board.
• The Director, Directorate of Town and Country Planning.
• The Registrar of Cooperative Societies (Housing).
• The Additional Secretary (Technical), Housing and Urban Development Department.
• The Joint Managing Director and Project Director for World Bank and Asian Development Bank projects, Tamil Nadu Slum Clearance Board, as Convener.
• A representative of the Tamil Nadu Infrastructure Fund Management Corporation with housing finance experience.
• A representative of the Confederation of Real Estate Developer's Association of India, Chennai Chapter.
• A representative from housing finance companies.

Relevance to property owners and buyers

Government Order (Ms.) Number 194 concerns policy preparation and committee administration. It does not approve a particular housing project, change the use of identified land, set property charges, or provide a process for individual property applications. Its relevance is that the committee includes planning, housing, cooperative housing, real estate and housing finance bodies involved in developing the draft urban housing and habitat policy.