Pune builder Kumar Gera has been appointed a member of the task force constituted by the Union Government to update and revise the National Housing and Habitat Policy (NHHP), which was approved by it in 1998.

A statement issued here on Thursday by the Confederation of real estate developers’ association of India (CREDAI), says the task force has been asked to draft the revised policy by May 2005. The main challenge before the task force will be to recommend the broad parameters for model by-laws and regulations to boost housing and remove legal impediments, if any.

Several states have acted upon the recommendations of the 1998 NHHP and these have had a significant impact on the housing and real estate markets across the country.

Some of these recommendations were: the repeal of the Urban Land (Ceiling and Regulation) Act, 1976; introduction of Section 80-1B under the Income Tax Act, empowering architects to sanction plans, lowering of stamp duty, etc.