BHUBANESWAR:In a bid to provide affordable housing for economically weaker section of society in urban areas, the State Government has decided to set up a Mission to streamline and expedite implementation of different housing projects. The Housing and Urban Development Department on Monday made a presentation before Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik in this regard. The proposal to set up the Mission will have to be approved by the Cabinet before the Local Self-government Day on August 31. The State Government will announce the new policy on the Day. The Mission will have four distinct components - slum redevelopment, affordable housing through interest subvention, rental housing for migrants and housing for urban destitute and homeless. Stating that the department is working on a new housing policy, Housing and Urban Development Minister Pushpendra Singhdeo said it will have to be vetted by Finance, Law, Revenue and General Administration Department before going to the Cabinet. The Minister said development of slums will be taken up on PPP mode. Government land within the city limits will be kept for affordable housing for the poor and economically weaker section (EWS) of people. Land on the city outskirts will be converted into urban land by developing and expanding infrastructure. In slum re-development, 65 per cent of the houses will be reserved for original residents of the slums while 35 per cent can be sold by the developer. Similarly, in non-slum areas, if a housing project is implemented in more than 2000 sq feet area, 20 per cent of the houses will have to be reserved for poor and EWS. Besides, a survey will be undertaken to ascertain the quantum of housing shortage in the State. Action plans for the State and different urban centres will also be prepared for implementation of the policy. Sources said the new policy includes granting of additional floor space index (FSI) for slums and affordable housing projects. There will be single window clearance for building and layout permission. Besides, slums will be denotified after their improvement through re-development. Chairman of Odisha State Housing Board (OSHB) Pratap Keshari Deb said for the first time, the State Government will start rental housing for the poor. He said a person with an income of Rs 1.8 lakh per annum can be eligible for housing under EWS category under the scheme. Persons having income of Rs 3.6 lakh per annum will qualify for LIG houses.