NEW DELHI (INDIA): Mahindra Lifespaces Developers MD and CEO Anita Arjundas said that the Union Budget 2017 has demonstrated fiscal prudence while placing a strong emphasis on infrastructure building and in addressing the housing needs of rural India and of specific income segments in urban India.
“We welcome the conferment of infrastructure status to affordable housing, which can improve resource allocation to the sector, thereby reducing cost of capital for developers. Moreover, the changes under Section 80 IB with respect to size of units (built up area to carpet area), timeframes for project completion (3 years to 5 years) and geography (upto 60 Esq. beyond the 4 metros) will encourage greater participation by organized developers in the affordable housing segment, thereby catalyzing development and reducing the supply gap,” she said.
“Interest subsidies announced last year under PMAY and further broadened during the recent address of the Prime Minister will further help reduce cost of home ownership for the relevant segment. Enhancement of budget allocation under PMAY and to NHB will greatly help finance these segments,” said Arjundas.
“Overall, the focus accorded to housing and infrastructure will provide impetus to accessibility, connectivity and job creation, which bodes well for the nation’s economy,” added Arjundas.
Affordable Housing will be given Infrastructure Status
The Union Minister for Finance and Corporate Affairs,Arun Jaitley while presenting the General Budget 2017-18 in Parliament said that affordable housing will now be given infrastructure status, which will enable these projects to avail the associated benefits.
The National Housing Bank (NHB) will refinance individual housing loans of about Rs. 20,000 crore in 2017-18. Thanks to the surplus liquidity created by demonetisation, the Banks have already started reducing their lending rates, including those for housing. The Finance Minister Shri Jaitley in his Budget Speech said that in addition, interest subvention for housing loans has also been announced by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
GST Council has finalised its recommendations on almost all the issues based on consensus
The Union Minister for Finance and Corporate Affairs,Jaitley said that the GST Council has finalised its recommendations on almost all the issues based on consensus after spirited debate and discussions.
The Finance Minister said that the Government on its part has promptly given effect to various provisions of the Constitutional Amendment Act, including constitution of the GST Council.
The GST Council held 9 meetings to discuss various issues relating to GST, including broad contours of the GST rate structure, threshold exemption and parameters for composition scheme, details for compensation to States due to implementation of GST, examination of draft model GST law, draft IGST law and the Compensation Law and administrative mechanism for GST.
He said the preparation of IT system for GST is also on schedule.
The Finance Minister Jaitley in his Budget Speech further said that the extensive reach-out efforts to trade and industry for GST will start from 1st April, 2017 to make them aware of the new taxation system.
He said that since the enactment of the Constitution (One Hundred and First Amendment) Act, 2016, there has been substantial progress on preparatory work towards ushering in GST which is by far the biggest tax reform since Independence.
“Several teams of officers both from the States and Central Board of Excise and Customs (CBEC)have been working to give finishing touch to the Model GST law, rules and other details, he added.
Jaitley said that the Government, through the Central Board of Excise & Customs (CBEC) shall continue to strive to achieve the goal of implementation of GST as per schedule without compromising the spirit of co-operative federalism.
He added that the implementation of GST is likely to bring more taxes both to Central and State Governments because of widening of tax net.
The Finance Minister Jaitley stated that not many changes have been proposed in current regime of Excise & Service Tax in the Budget proposals since they are to be replaced by GST soon.