CM unveils ‘Affordable Housing’ and ‘Allotment Of Land’ Policies

Chief Minister Smt. Vasundhara Raje unveiled two important policies pertaining to affordable housing and allotment of land for different purposes in urban areas at the Secretariat in Jaipur on Saturday. The Chief Minister said that these policies would be new milestones in the journey of policy reforms. Both the policies would go a long way in ensuring affordable housing and making simple and easy allotment of land for different purposes in urban areas. She said that with the increasing prices of land and building materials, it was indeed a challenge to provide housing to thousands of urban poor in various cities at reasonable and affordable rates. She said that the government had reshaped the earlier policy for affordable housing which was launched in 2009. In the new policy incentives had been offered for developers in such a way that they get motivated to construct EWS and LIG houses on both, private as well as government land.
Smt. Raje said that the new policy would also motivate government agencies to take up construction of affordable houses. For smooth implementation of the policy a committee had been set up under the chairmanship of Urban Development Minister. She invited various bodies of the real estate developers to participate in the forthcoming Resurgent Rajasthan Partnership Summit scheduled to be held in Jaipur in November. She said that global investors summit had galvanized the government into taking fast and effective steps and action in various sectors. The housing sector, she said, was our key focus area – both from the perspective of inviting investment and providing employment.
On the policy for allotment of land in urban areas, the CM said that with this the process of allotment of land in urban areas would become faster and smoother for investors. The procedures and norms of allotment for various purposes had been included in the policy, which make it transparent. Clear and simple procedures were specified in the policy, she added. The policy took in account land allotment for charitable and social institutions, industrial and public utilities, premier institutions, political parties and government departments, she said.
Urban Development Minister Shri Rajpal Singh Shekhawat said that although the procedure for land allotment had been made easier, yet the government aimed to keep a strict check on proper use of allotted land. To expedite process of construction, developers would be facilitated with fast track approvals. He further said that the land allotment policy and related details would be available in public domain.
Prior to this, Additional Chief Secretary, Urban Development & Housing, Shri Ashok Jain gave a presentation outlining the salient features of both the policies. He explained various provisions for residential schemes, proposed industrial areas, development of affordable housing by private developers on private land, development of EWS/LIG flats by private developers on whole of private or government land. The Chief Minister also interacted with the representatives of real estate bodies, including CREDAI, as well as bankers. Several members of the State Cabinet, Public representatives and seniors officers were present on the occasion.

Marwar Festival on 26-27 October 2015 at Jodhpur

Marwar Festival is scheduled on 26-27 October 2015 at Jodhpur (Rajasthan). Marwar Festival is held every year in memory of the heroes of Rajasthan. The festival is held in the month of Ashwin (September-October) in Jodhpur, for two days during the full moon of Sharad Poornima. Originally known as the Maand Festival, this festival features folk music centered on the romantic lifestyle of Rajasthan's rulers. This festival is devoted to the music and dance of the Marwar region and offers a good opportunity to see the folk dancers carrying pots on their heads and singers who assemble here and provide hours of lively entertainment. These folk artistes provide a glimpse of the days of yore, of battles and valiant heroes who still live on in their songs.

Horticulture in Rajasthan

Horticulture in Rajasthan: Rajasthan with its huge geographical area of 342 lakhs ha. has attained the status of being largest state of India. The state represents 10.4% of the total land mass with 5.5% population of the country, but it has hardly 1% of total national water resources. As far as scenario of horticulture in Rajasthan is concerned, it is full of potential as the diverse agro-climatic conditions are very much favoring growing of large number of horticultural crops like fruits, vegetables, spices, flowers and medicinal & aromatic plants through out the year. 
Silent features of Horticulture in Rajasthan:
  • It is only 1989, when separate department of horticulture came into existence with ultimate objective of harnessing the potential of horticulture in the State in a systematic and planned manner so as to increase area, production and productivity of different horticultural crops and there by to improve nutritional as well as economic status of people of State. 
  • As a result during 2013-14, about 12.30 lakhs ha area is reported to be under horticultural crops against gross cropped area of 260 lakhs ha. 
  • This includes 0.39 lakh ha under fruit crops, 1.49 lakhs ha under vegetable crops 8.09  lakhs ha under spices crops, 0.03 lakh under flowers and 2.31 lakhs ha area under medicinal & aromatic crops which comes to about 4.73% of gross cropped area. 
  • As far as production of these crops is concerned, it is 6.45 lakhs MT in fruits,11.14, 6.69, 0.03 & 1.24 lakhs MT in vegetables, spices, flowers and medicinal & aromatic crops respectively.
  • Mango, Aonla, Pomegranate, Guava, Santra,Kinnu, Ber and Malta are the main horticulture fruits.
  • 90% nurseries are registered in the state. 142964 hectare drip are installed in the state up to 2014-15.
  • The fruit like Kinnow & Santra were exported to the countries Srilanka, England, Malaysia & Dubai similarly spices crops like Coriander & Ajwain including Cumin & Fenugreek were exported to the countries Srilanka & Dubai, respectively in addition to the above medicinal crops Sonamukhi, Mehandi, & Kalonji were exported to Dubai.
  • Rajasthan is First in Mehandi Production, First position in Coriander production in india for the year (2013-14)
  • Rajasthan is First in Isabgol production, Second in Cumin Production (2013-14)
  • Rajasthan is Third position in respect of Total Spices production for the year (2013-14)
  • Rajasthan is Fourth in Mandarin (Oranges) production and the production of the best quality of Kinnow.
  • The Horticultural Development Program have been expanded form 21 districts to cover all 33 districts with the help of Agriculture Extension workers.

Current Affairs September 2015