Rural areas of India have left behind the urban areas in demand for solar power

Solar electricity generating system - the new addition to the dowry list of rural regions of Bihar and eastern UP - is putting such high demand to the emerging market that manufacturers are finding it very difficult to match it. This is a recent phenomenon, around two years old.

Other remote areas like the Sundarbans in West Bengal are looking towards solar too as reaching grid electricity to these areas is economically infeasible.

Bigger Homes under Low-Cost Housing Scheme

Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan has expressed concerns regarding creation of vertical slums under the low-cost housing schemes. Hence he has issued orders that the size of houses being built under the MMRDA's rental housing scheme, which has now partially been converted into a low-cost housing scheme, should be increased from 160 sq. ft. to 300 sq. ft.

Boost for affordable housing as landowners, Mhada joins hands in Mumbai

In Mumbai, keeping in view the shortage of affordable housing, the state government has approved a policy that enables private landowners to lease out land to the state housing agency Mhada in exchange for incentive in development rights. This could create around 1 lakh additional homes, which could be auctioned through the Mhada lottery.