#WeeklyRoundUp: Akrama Sakrama May Now Cover Properties Built After October 2013

With the view to achieving the target of Housing For All by 2022, the Centre has simplified the environmental clearance processes for building projects in the country. The move allows smaller projects to meet environment conditions through a 'self-declaration' process while the bigger projects need not seek prior green approvals before embarking on construction activity.

Following the Karnataka High Court's dismissal of all pleas against the Akrama Sakrama scheme, the government is now mulling including properties constructed after October 19, 2013, for regularisation. At present, only properties constructed before October 19, 2013, are eligible for regularisation. Now, the government will have to reset the time frame of buildings termed illegal till a very recent date and then issue orders accordingly.

The Andhra Pradesh government has decided to turn six municipal towns into smart cities. The state cabinet gave its nod to transform Srikakulam, Eluru, Ongole, Nellore, Kurnool and Anantapur into smart cities. Visakhapatnam, Kakinada and Tirupati have already been selected for the Smart City project of the Union government.

Shapoorji Pallonji Group's real estate arm SP Real Estate expects its residential portfolio to reach 20 million sq ft over the next six years in cities like Chennai, Bengaluru, Pune, Noida, Gurgaon and Mumbai. The company has joined hands with investors for its affordable housing 'Joyville' projects. The first such project is coming up at Howrah in Kolkata.