Minister of state for housing and urban poverty alleviation Kumari Selja today said a new policy for urban housing is likely to be finalised and implemented shortly.

The minister said that the current national housing and habitat policy had come into effect in 1998 and it was felt that to streamline and augment housing development, particularly for urban poor in the new emerging context, it has been decided to have an updated housing policy.

The draft national urban housing and habitat policy, inter-alia provides for accelerating the pace of development of housing and related infrastructure; creating adequate and affordable housing stock both on rental and ownership basis; encouraging State Governments/Development

Authorities to periodically update their Master Plans and Zoning Plans; and facilitating accelerated supply of serviced land in housing with particular focus on Economically Weaker Section and Low Income Group categories, the House was informed.