KOLKATA: The civic body is set to push for a change in the thika tenancy act for use of huge chunks of such land for construction of housing projects for the financially weaker section.Kolkata Municipal Corporation mayor Firhad Hakim on Monday held a meeting with the survey and assessment department officials to chalk out a plan to use thika tenancy land across the city to meet housing needs of the underprivileged.
Hakim reportedly asked the officials to prepare a proposal for providing extra facilities for construction of housing projects on thika land. For example, the KMC building department will need to give extra FAR (floor-area ratio) for the builders of housing projects on thika land.
The survey or assessment department officials will need to amend laws while calculating property tax on Thika land to give realtors or the government agencies facilities to undertake housing projects for the underprivileged.
“We have been asked to prepare specific proposals on use of thika land for housing needs. The proposals will be sent to the state government. They will then be sent to the cabinet for its approval before being placed in the legislative assembly,” an official said .