In a bid to boost affordable housing in UP the state government has effected amendments in the policy for construction of houses under the economically weaker section (EWS) and Lower Income Group (LIG) category. The state housing department has not only raised the annual income bar for the EWS and LIG, it has also made the construction of the two category of houses under the land development or the group housing scheme mandatory. In a latest government order (dated December 5) the state housing department has said that it would implementing the policy of the centre/housing development corporation where in the income level of the EWS has been raised from Rs 60,000 to Rs 1 lakh per annum. Likewise, those having an annual income more than Rs 1 lakh but less than Rs 2 lakh will be categorized under the LIG. The state government has also fixed the built up area of the housing units that will be constructed under the two category of the houses. While in case of a land development scheme, a EWS house will be constructed in an area of 30-35 square meter, the LIG houses will have a built up area of 40-50 sq metres. Likewise, in case of group housing schemes, the EWS house may be constructed over an area of 25-35 sq metres, while the LIG houses will have an area of 35 to 48 sq metres. In case of land development schemes, the cost of the houses will be included in the ceiling cost. While the ceiling cost of EWS will be Rs 3.25 lakh, those for LIG will be Rs 7 lakh. Likewise, in case of group housing, the state housing department has allowed construction of houses in blocks of four floors or even more. The state government has also reiterated that in case of government, cooperative or private group housing schemes, the developers will be required to construct at least 10% of the EWS and 10% of the LIG houses. In case of schemes having an area of less than 4 hectares, the developer will either be required to construct the houses in the same percentage or submit a fee called 'Shelter Fee'. For cities having a population of 10 lakh and above the developer may get the EWS/LIG houses constructed within a radius of 5km from the scheme. In other cities, the units may be constructed within a radius of 2km. The houses will be alloted on a 'lease hold' basis. The unit may be sold off or get it free hold only after a period of five years. "The developer will be required to submit a shelter fee, in case it is not able to construct the houses as per the government directive. The fee may be deposited with either the respective development authority or the UP housing and development board, the GO issued by principal secretary (housing)," Sadakant said. The 'shelter fee' will be deposited in a separate bank account that will be used by the state government for purchase of land holdings in future. The developer will also be required to deposit a bank guarantee that will be calculated on the basis of 10% of the total land cost in the scheme. The DM circle rate will be the basis of calculation of the bank guarantee.