Coronavirus in India: Tips to keep your house safe from Coronavirus

Feb 11,2020 / By Prahalad Singh / No Comment

About Coronaviruses

As the new Wuhan coronavirus has spread not solely over mainland China but also worldwide, panic amongst people is rising day-by-day. Inside China, there is a growing sense of helplessness, because the government is forced to take severe steps to prevent the virus, including some travel restrictions in Beijing. Death toll in China nears 1,500, confirmed cases cross 65,000. Meantime, the World Health Organization (WHO) has warned that confirmed cases of coronavirus are spread among people who have never moved to China. The first possible case of this virus in Ontario was identified on 25th January 2020 and has evidence of limited human-to-human transmission.

What are Coronaviruses?

Coronaviruses are a large family of viruses that can cause illnesses varying from the common cold to serious respiratory infections like bronchitis, pneumonia or serious acute respiratory syndrome (SARS). Some causes illness in humans and others cause illness in animals, such as bats, camels, and civets.

Coronaviruses are spread mainly from person to person through close contact, for example, in a household, workplace or health care center.
Some human coronaviruses spread easily between people, whereas others don’t.

Your risk of critical illness is also higher if you’ve got a weakened immune system. This might be the case for:

Older people
People with chronic illness (for example, diabetes, cancer, heart, renal or chronic lung disease)

Advice if your child has a fever and cough

If your child gets a fever and cough, this is what you should do:

1) Call your doctor’s office for advice specific to your child and your community.
2) If your doctor does not think your child needs to be checked, you can help them feel better by

being sure they stay hydrated. Make sure they are drinking regularly. Popsicles are a good way to get fluids in and can relieve a painful throat.
using acetaminophen or ibuprofen for fever. Check with your doctor’s office about the right dose for your child.
using a humidifier to help with congestion.
restricting the use of over-the-counter cold medicines in children under the age of 6. They don’t help much (even with kids over 6) and can have side effects. In children over a year, honey can relieve a cough. Use saltwater drops for stuffy noses.

Watch for warning signs of problems, and seek medical attention if they occur:

3) any difficulty breathing (rapid or heavy breathing, sucking in around the neck or ribs, looking pale or bluish)
harsh cough that won’t stop
4) high fever that won’t come down with acetaminophen or ibuprofen
5) extreme sleepiness
6) irritability or pain that you cannot soothe
7) refusal to take fluids, or any signs of dehydration (dry mouth, no tears when crying, not urinating at least every six hours).

Tips to deal with the coronavirus in India

Travelers who have returned from mainland China should:

Contact the local public health unit within 24 hours of arriving in India
Stay at home and avoid close contact with others, including those in your home, for a total of 14 days from the date you left China
Monitor themselves for symptoms of the 2019 novel coronavirus for 14 days after leaving mainland China

What should one do if he/she comes into contact with a person with coronavirus in India?

If you have been identified as a contact of a person with proved coronavirus infection in India, the local public health unit will contact you with advice within 24 hours of arriving in India. This advice will include that you need to isolate yourself at home for 14 days after contact with the infected person, and to monitor your health and report any symptoms.

What are the symptoms and treatments from the 2019 novel coronavirus?

Symptoms range from mild – like the flu and other common respiratory infections – to severe, and can include:

fever
cough
difficulty in breathing

Complications from the 2019 novel coronavirus can include serious conditions, like pneumonia or kidney failure, and in some cases, death.

There are no specific treatments for coronaviruses, and there is no vaccine that protects against coronaviruses. Most people with common human coronavirus illnesses will recover on their own. You should:

drink plenty of fluids
get rest and sleep as much as possible
try a humidifier or a hot shower to help with a sore throat or cough

If you need immediate medical attention you should call 911 and mention your travel history and symptoms.

How to protect yourself from the 2019 novel coronavirus?

There is no vaccine available to protect against the 2019 novel coronavirus. One should follow everyday actions that can help prevent the spread of germs that cause respiratory illnesses.

Take these everyday steps to reduce exposure to the virus and protect your health:

Wash your hands often with soap and water
Sneeze and cough into your sleeve
Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth
Avoid contact with people who are sick
Stay home if you are sick

If you are traveling to an area known to have cases of coronavirus, be sure to avoid:

high-risk areas such as farms, live animal markets, and areas where animals may be slaughtered
contact with animals (alive or dead), including pigs, chickens, ducks, and wild birds
surfaces with animal droppings or secretions on them

What is the scientific name of Coronavirus and its sources of origin?

The scientific name of coronavirus is “2019 novel coronavirus” (2019-nCov). It is a respiratory infection that originated in Wuhan, China.

Which are the current affected areas?

Mainland China is identified as the major affected areas and the travelers who have returned from Hubei province, including Wuhan City.

Coronavirus in India

A total of 1,999 people, who have a travel history from China and other affected countries, are under observation in Kerala, of whom 75 are in isolation wards of various hospitals. The remaining 1,924 are under home quarantine and have been asked to not go out in public until the end of the 28-day incubation period.

On 14th Feb, almost two weeks after the evacuation, the government reported that all Indian evacuees from Wuhan – 645 of them have tested negative for 2019-nCoV. Over 11,500 individuals are presently under community surveillance in 34 states/union territories and contact tracing is going on. As of now, 1,632 samples from suspected patients have been tested from across the country of which three samples have tested positive; all from the state of Kerala. Interestingly, reports indicate that all three patients are medical students undergoing training in Wuhan.

The latest data indicate that about 82% of cases are mild, 18% cases are severe, of which 3% require intensive care; and that the fatalities are mostly old patients and those with pre-existing conditions. Many medical personnel is getting affected as well.

What is the Indian government doing?

A new travel advisory has been issued directing everyone to avoid traveling to China, saying planned visitors from China might apply for a fresh Indian visa. Apart from that, if anyone with a history of travel to China since January 15th, 2020, could be quarantined.

Are Indian airlines still flying to China?

All Indian airlines have suspended flights to China. Air India, IndiGo, and other Indian airlines have suspended flights to China over the coronavirus risks.

Where are the screening wards in India located for Coronavirus?

Screening wards in India city-wise:

City	Screening Wards
Delhi	Manesar Camp, Ram Manohar Lohia, AIIMS, and Safdarjung hospital.
Mumbai	Kasturba hospital and Pune’s Naidu hospital
Karnataka	Government Wenlock Hospital, Mangaluru International Airport
Manipur	5-centers have been opened in different border towns of the state and at the Imphal International Airport to screen people for coronavirus.
Mizoram	India-Myanmar border is being tested at Zokhawthar.

Updates on 2019 novel coronavirus in India

The patient who first examined positive for coronavirus is now hospitalized in Thrissur Medical College and her condition is stable.
The 2nd case of coronavirus in the country was reported from Kerala and the patient is being monitored in an isolation ward at Alappuzha Medical College.
The 3rd case of coronavirus was seen in Kerala and the patient has been kept under isolation at the Kanhangad in Kasaragod district and his condition is also stable.
Dr. Harsh Vardhan, Union Health Minister said that the center is taking complete preventive steps regarding the coronavirus outbreak.
To date, India has screened 1,118 flights so far.
DGCA has exempted flight crews from Breath Analyser (BA) tests for 15 days at Kerala’s Calicut, Kannur, Trivandrum and Cochin airports following the novel coronavirus outbreak.
3,252 people under observation in Kerala for Coronavirus.
Over 1.9 lakh passengers screened for Coronavirus at airports, 9,452 persons under surveillance, as per the Health Ministry.

Where did the new coronavirus (2019-nCov) come from?

As per the local people, the virus (2019-nCov) first appeared in Wuhan, China in people who had visited a local seafood and animal market (called the Huanan seafood market).

How does the coronavirus spread between people?

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) states that human coronaviruses are most commonly spread from one infected person to another via:

The air (sneeze or from viral particles from a cough)
Close personal contact (shaking hands or touching)
An object or surface with viral particles on it (then the touching nose, eyes, and your mouth before washing your hands)
And rarely from defecation contamination.

Is the virus being spread from one person to another?

The novel coronavirus (n-CoV) can be spread from one person to another most likely by coughing or contact with respiratory issues of people infected with the virus.

There have been a small number of cases of transmission from person to person taking place outside of mainland China.

How is the coronavirus diagnosed?

Infection with 2019-nCoV is diagnosed by detecting confirmation of the virus in respiratory samples such as fluid from the lungs or swabs from the throat. An infected person can immediately ask for the local public health unit.

Who is at risk?

People who have visited mainland China (excluding Hong Kong, Macau, or Taiwan), or who have had contact with an infected person, in the past 14 days may be at risk of catching the disease.

Which countries are infected from Coronavirus?

Here’s the list of Coronavirus cases country-wise:

Country Name	Coronavirus Cases
Mainland China	37,232
Thailand	32
Japan	25 (+70 on a cruise ship off the coast)
Singapore	40
Hong Kong	29
South Korea	25
Taiwan	18
Australia	15
Malaysia	16
Germany	14
Vietnam	13
Macau	10
The U.S.	12
France	11
UAE	7
Canada	7
Italy	3
Russia	2
UK	3
Philippines	3
Cambodia	1
India	3
Belgium	1
Finland	1
Nepal	1
Spain	1
Srilanka	1
Sweden	1

Data source: livescience.com

What is being done globally to stop the spread of the coronavirus?

The Chinese government put Wuhan and many other nearby cities on “lockdown,” meaning people are not allowed in or out of the area.
The governments of both Taiwan and Hong Kong have said they would not allow in anyone from the Hubei Province (where Wuhan is located).
Major airports in the U.S. are conducting screenings to try to check for symptoms of the virus.
The Chinese government has banned the sale of wildlife in markets, restaurants and online.
Also, U.S. citizens, permanent residents and immediate families who have visited China’s Hubei province will undergo a mandatory two-week quarantine. And “foreign nationals” who have traveled to China in the past 14 days won’t be allowed in the U.S.
If Americans visited any other part of China, they will be screened at airports and asked for self-quarantine for 14 days.
Australia is also barring entry to non-citizens who have recently visited China.
Flights carrying passengers from China will be rerouted to one of 11 U.S. airports.

How can people protect themselves and others from Coronavirus?

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the best way to prevent infection with 2019-nCoV is to avoid being exposed to the virus. In general, the CDC recommends the following to prevent the spread of respiratory viruses:

People who traveled to China and became sick with fever, difficulty in breathing or cough within the following 2-weeks should ask for medical care instantly and call first to inform the medical staff about their recent travel.
Avoid close contact with people who are sick
Stay at home when you are sick
Clean and sanitize frequently touched objects and surfaces.
Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds
If traveling to China, you should avoid contact with sick people, avoid dead or alive animals, animal markets or products that come from animals such as uncooked meat.
Avoid touching your nose, eyes, and mouth with unwashed hands

What scientists are doing across the US?

Scientists are trying to invent a vaccine for the new virus across the US. The National Institute of Health (NIH) is working on it, but it will take at least a few months before clinical experiments start and more than a year until a vaccine might actually be available in the market.

What if one doesn’t have medicare or healthcare facilities?

To help the NSW response to coronavirus, people will not be charged out of pocket expenses who are not eligible for medicare and presenting to NSW Health facilities for coronavirus assessment.

Most people that are not eligible for medicare will have health or travel insurance. For those that do not have sufficient insurance coverage, NSW Health will cover these costs.

These arrangements have been put in place to ensure payment issues are not a difficulty for people from overseas with respiratory symptoms demanding immediate medical help.

Is there any specific treatment or a vaccine?

Currently, there are no specific treatments and available vaccines that protect against coronaviruses. Early diagnosis and general supportive care are necessary.

Indian coronavirus cases on Diamond Princess cruise ship

The latest coronavirus cases in India are reported from the Diamond Princess cruise ship quarantined off the coast of Yokohama in Japan. Three crew members from India have tested positive for the virus on the ship as of 15 February. A total of 138 passengers and crew members from India are reportedly on board the ship.

What arrangements are in place for checking people at airports?

The Indian Government has put in place protective measures at all international airports for passengers coming from China.

Global Updates on 2019 novel coronavirus

According to the Johns Hopkins virus dashboard, approximately 42,000 individuals globally (primarily in mainland China) have been confirmed to have the new coronavirus.
1,000 deaths linked to the virus.
More than 800 Americans have been evacuated from Wuhan on four flights.
Wuhan officials plan to round up those suspected of being infected into mass quarantine camps.
There have been two deaths, one in the Philippines and the other in Hong Kong.
A 60-year-old U.S. citizen in Wuhan has died after being infected with the coronavirus.
As per the Times report, around 3,700 people are being quarantined on the Diamond Princess cruise ship off Japan due to the coronavirus, with 70 individuals testing positive so far.
The 34-year-old Chinese doctor who was silenced by police for warning about the coronavirus outbreak has died after contracting that virus.
A phase 1 trial of a new vaccine against 2019-nCoV by Dr. Anthony Fauci, is on track to begin in 2.5 months.
Fauci stated that there have been “no glitches so far” in the steps to prepare the vaccine which involves initial studies in lab dishes and animals.
According to U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, the U.S. is ready to spend up to $100 million to support China and other countries in fighting the virus.
U.S. citizens, permanent residents, and immediate family who have visited China’s Hubei province will now undergo a mandatory 2-week quarantine.
The total number of deaths in China now at 1,367 out of 59805 confirmed cases until 13th Feb.
With 44 new cases, the total number of affected on quarantined Japan cruise ship now stands at 218
China’s capital Beijing imposes a 14-day quarantine on arrivals
Golf-Kuala Lumpur and Shenzhen events postponed due to coronavirus outbreak
WHO says joint China mission to start coronavirus investigations this weekend
Top Australian Universities say Chinese students could quit Australia
According to ministry communication, 2148 flights and 232613 passengers from China have been screened so far.
Outside China, the biggest group of Coronavirus infections is aboard the Diamond Princess cruise ship off Japan’s Yokohama, where an additional 99 cases were reported on Monday, making the total to 454 diagnosed.
China may postpone the annual parliament session over the virus

Coronavirus Updates India
The Indian national in UAE affected by the virus is now stable
Three Indian crew members on an isolated cruise ship in Japan test positive for coronavirus
Indian Embassy in Japan said it is touch with authorities for their welfare and early disembarkation
2 of the 3 Indians infected with the virus in Kerala test negative
83 under home quarantine in Odisha
Indian aviation regulator adds passengers of four countries to be screened for Coronavirus
Coronavirus has dented Goa’s tourism prospects
India has screened 1,118 flights so far
3252 people under observation in Kerala for Coronavirus
Over 1.9 lakh passengers screened for Coronavirus at airports, 9,452 persons under surveillance
Existing visas, including already issued eVisa, no longer valid for any foreign national traveling from China.
A 28-year-old man from UP’s Utraula has been kept in isolation ward. The man is a medical student in China and had returned to India 15 days ago.
To date, 2,455 people have been placed under the monitoring of which 2,431 are under home quarantine and 24 in assigned facilities.
So far, 381 samples of suspect cases have been sent to NIV for testing, of which results of 354 were negative.
17 people from Delhi who returned from abroad before coronavirus screening showed symptoms, hospitalized.
Embassy of India in Japan said that all 4 COVID-19 positive Indian nationals as on 17th Feb 2020 receiving medical attention onshore are reacting well to the treatment. We are in regular touch with Indians onboard Diamond Princess Ship.
PM Modi writes to Manu Joseph, nursing officer, Safdarjung Hospital, extending his heartiest congratulations to members of the medical team who helped in the evacuation of Indian citizens from Wuhan.
India to send a consignment of medical supplies to China later this week to fight coronavirus.#India #China #kerala #coronavirus #wuhan #diamondprincess #safetytips #health #who #coronavirusupdatesImage & Data source: Ontario, Livescience.com, World Health Organisation

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Is Indian Real Estate Sector Going to Revive in 2020?

Feb 11,2020 / By Prahalad Singh / No Comment

Real Estate Sector in India

The real estate sector in India has been witnessing weak sales for the last few years, resulting in a sharp drop in its significant contribution to the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP). Overall, the year 2019 proved to be a mixed year for the nation’s realty sector as the commercial sector flourished but that was not the case with residential real estate. However, some positivity has been seen in the market as a result of various announcements made by the government last year. Government announcements like NHB raising liquidity for Housing Finance Companies, relaxation of External Commercial Borrowings (ECB) funds, and approval of a Rs 25,000-crore alternate fund have all been made at a positive pace.

Nation’s real estate sector saw a fall after banks limited lending activity post the NBFC crisis in 2018 and the situation worsened further in 2019 to a sharp demand crisis. Not just the real estate sector but a large number of other industries indirectly related to the sector have also suffered the heavy winds of low demand.

Real estate developers, consumers, and investors have been facing the burden of the fall in the housing segment for the last few years. From unsold inventories to incomplete construction to delayed projects, the segments had faced a lot of difficulties that have been pointing to negative sentiments.

In spite of the government’s measures to revive the weak realty market, there has been no positive result except limited growth of just 1% in the year 2019 but far from reaching its full potential.

According to the International Monetary Fund, India’s economy grew by about 4.8% in 2019, a sharp drop from 6.8% in 2018. Similarly, unemployment rose to 7.5% in the last 3 months of 2019.

There is an urgent need to approach the challenge of liquidity suffered by the sector, especially after the NBFC cash crisis. Liquidity will improve sentiment in the market with a regular supply of ready to move-in homes. If the challenge is not tackled on priority, it will block the confidence of developers as well as buyers which may seriously affect the realty sector as well as the economic growth of the country.

Few bold govt measures that could revive the real estate market in the year to come including tax rebate hike, personal tax relief, higher liquidity, better land reforms and fast infrastructure development for raising homebuyer sentiments.

The industry body has also suggested the government to reconcile the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (IBC), GST and individual taxes to help increase demand for unsold properties, which increased sharply in 2019.

The reviving real estate sector would also improve overall demand as the sector employs a large number of laborers belonging to lower-income groups. As a result, it could lead to a strong rise in rural demand.

However, it needs to be noted that the measures are not yet sufficient in size and will not be able to cater to real estate developers (small and big) and players in Tier 2 and 3 cities. Most importantly, the measures need to be backed by other factors mentioned below to bring in a proper resolution. Instant step in terms of implementation of several schemes and processes is expected to bring momentum into the sector in 2020.

Budget 2020-21 Fails to Address Major Concerns of Realty SectorFreal estate

It offers a few solutions to revive the nation’s weak economy. The government’s $428 billion budget for 2020-21 considered a series of modest initiatives, including planned investments in new roads and airports and personal income tax cuts, along with an increase in bank deposit insurance to encourage customers worried by high-profile bank failures.

But it offered no large incentive plan to produce more jobs or money in the pockets of India’s 1.3 billion residents, most of whom rarely get their food through farming or work in the informal economy. Nor did the budget offer any additional support for the country’s weak financial institutions.

Few Govt measures that may put real estate back on track in 2020 includes:

Industry Status

For a long time, the real estate market demands an industry status that can help it with finances at a lower cost, especially at times when the availability of funding is a major barrier for the industry.

Single-window clearance

The sector, which is struggling to deal with multiple government offices for project approval, wants a single-window clearance facility to initiate the project implementation faster.

Removal of Multiple Rates or Taxes

Multiple rates or taxes need to be removed into a single standard GST rate.

Incorporation of Stamp Duty under GST

The cancellation of stamp duty or its incorporation under GST.

Lowering Interest Rates

In 2019, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) reduced the policy rates (Repo Rate) by 135 basis points. But the registered commercial banks didn’t follow the procedure. So the average marginal cost of lending rate (MCLR) of banks has decreased by only 64 bps. The lower interest rates will benefit to decide the existing liquidity crisis and boost housing demand.

Rebate in Income Tax

Rebate in individual income tax will be another help to the sector as it will decrease the financial burden of the buyers and improve their expendable income.

Housing Loan Interest Rates to be Reduced

Interest rates on housing loans also need to be reduced to encourage demand and sales. Restoration of income tax gains on a 2nd home can benefit homebuyers in a big way.

Notional Rental Income

We expect the government to release organizations involved in real estate business from the burden of tax on notional rental income or the period of 1 year should be extended to 5 years. This is pushing buyers away from the market and affecting the sector as well.

Restriction on Home Loan Interest Paid

The govt should also remove the restriction of an additional deduction of Rs 1.5 lakh paid on a home loan up to Rs 35 lakhs with total values not exceeding Rs 45 lakhs.

The government should implement land reforms and amend the acquisition process.

People’s Expectations:

It is expected that the real estate sector will hopefully observe a growth story in 2020. Covering 1,600 projects with 458,000 housing units under the center’s announcement will help in raising buyer confidence and is expected to generate significant employment. We expect the govt to give full support to the sector not just in terms of the announcement but also implementation. The year 2020 needs a device to protect developers from the existing liabilities and stuck projects. It also needs to incentivize stressed projects in various ways.

At the same time, the central government has projected that the economic growth would rebound to as much as 6.5% for the current fiscal year.

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Modern Kitchen Trends 2020

Feb 4,2020 / By Supriya Mogarala / No Comment

Modern kitchens are one of the best alternatives for many reasons. Our lives are full of chaos and chores where we have really less time to spend in our house. Modern kitchens will let you dedicate yourself to other tasks and activities that you cannot usually do in your house. The kitchen must be simple, practical, organized and functional but without leaving aside a beautiful design, this space will never fail to transmit the warmth of home that you will find in these kitchens of past years.

Modern kitchens will serve as an inspiration as one of the spaces of the house that is being modernized and updated in recent times. The design of your kitchen is one of the most important decisions that you must make while you design your house because the appliances require a lot of choices and installations.

Modern white kitchen:

The white colour is one of the main colours in interior decoration, it will never fail to provide your kitchen with a very powerful visual effect by increasing the reception of light and will bring you a sense of cleanliness with amplitude. Ideally, combining the white colour with other colours that will bring vibrancy to your kitchen will be a good idea. The white color can be combined with as many colours as possible since it has the power to blend with any colour around it. White colour has very good compatibility to get blended with all types of materials also. Wood, granite, vinyl are the materials that will make a perfect combination with white. With vibrant colors like white present in your kitchen, you can choose any decorative style for your kitchen. It can be in Nordic look or in retro style by matching it up with lacquered furniture and the white pickled wood. You can combine your kitchen with aluminum accessories to obtain a modern result. And when it comes to walls, you can choose smooth walls or tiles. White color is perfect even for the ceilings.

Appropriate colours for modern kitchen:

It is true that colours we choose to design our home interiors will have a great impact on us. The area in the house must contain the colours that transmit creativity, sociability and enhance calmness in the environment.

If you choose to use a range of cool colours such as purple, green or blue, these colours will make sure that they transmit the kitchen to be clean, efficient and all the above. These colours are meant to provide beautiful aesthetics and professionalism in the kitchen.

You can also choose warm colours such as orange, yellow or red, these colours create more welcoming spaces. These shades of colours will make your kitchen transmit all the warmth. You gain a lot of positivity because of these colours. One of the best options is also to combine your kitchen with cold and warm colors.

Modern kitchen in contrast colours:

One of the best options is to combine the colours to achieve a neutral look is to combine it with various shades of green, red, blue, and beige. Of the colours you choose, one should be the main one that serves as the base and another one will serve as a secondary shade, and the third one will be the most striking colour that will be used only in small strokes in the smallest elements of the kitchen. And based on this, the first two colours will be similar and belong to the same branch of colours. Shades like pastel pink, lavender, pale pink have the strongest compatibility that has a white base.

What advantages do modern kitchens have?

Currently, there are different designs for modern kitchens. Its popularity has indicated that users who want to have one have a huge variety of models, colours, features and various functionalities to decide from. But, in common, what are the qualities that will make modern kitchens so welcoming?

Firstly, it is the creative design that draws consideration of the potential buyers. Currently, the kitchen has winded up to be a separate space apart from the eyes of guests and is frequently blended with the rest of the house, so you have to attract people who see it as much as the rest of the decor. Therefore, the kitchen not only has to comply with the purposes linked with it but must also present a style compatible with the rest of the house.

Thus, this kind of modern kitchens, with their thoughtful design, bright surfaces, and global thought directed both at remaining functional and gratifying to the eye, develop as a great option when it comes to understanding the overall decor of your house.

Kitchens are not those spaces anymore which are just dedicated entirely to perform functions related to food, but also are places of friendship and other social activities. Therefore, modern kitchens are also defined by the presence of items like stools and chairs that let you cook, eat and store different objects in the most unique way. In this way, the attention that these types of design plans lend to the function of the kitchen as a place for socialization has won the hearts of many people, who have preferred this type of kitchen to be included in their house.

The surfaces of modern kitchens are wear and tear-resistant and, particularly, very easy to clean. With the fast-paced life we are living now, we are very appreciative that one of the dirtiest spaces of the house can be cleaned instantly and easily. Therefore, the substances that modern kitchens are usually made of are characterized by being ready to be easily cleaned and be much more repellent to stains, bumps, and humidity than the more traditional design, such as wood.

The modern style also provides the chance to have kitchens with integrated furniture and appliances, which makes them ideal and perfect for small houses where you have to take benefit of every last crack possible. Modern kitchens are hugely versatile and adaptable, which makes them a perfect choice for those houses where a shortage of space is a major problem. The islands, that ordinarily substitute conventional tables in the designs of modern kitchens not only improve their storage space but also add a new place to keep appliances that sometimes do not fit in the usual design, such as an oven or a dishwasher.

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Union Budget 2020- Real Estate Highlights

Feb 1,2020 / By Supriya Mogarala / No Comment

Real Estate Sector Highlights of Union Budget 2020:

Nirmala Sitharaman, Finance Minister of India has announced the Union Budget 2020-21. In the second term of the current government, this is the second budget. Fundamentals of the economy are strong enough to assure the stability of the micro-economic growth of the country. Banks had cleared up and recapitalized the accumulated loans of the past decade. Numerous steps have been taken on the formalization of the Indian economy.

Infrastructure:

Infrastructure was a principal focus for the Finance Minister as she presented her Budget speech. She made various important announcements on infrastructure like setting up 100 new airports for the UDAN scheme by 2024. The presence of an airport will enhance the city’s image as a business destination and will directly augment the scope of rental housing. She also announced that large solar plants would be set up on land owned by the Railways along the railway tracks. 148 km long Bengaluru Suburban transport project at a cost of 18600 crores, would have fares on the metro model. Central Government would provide 20% of equity and facilitate external assistance up to 60% of the project cost.

The government has proposed to provide about 1.70 lakh crore for transport Infrastructure in 2020-21. Proposal has been given to set up a project preparation facility for infrastructure projects.

The National Infrastructure Pipeline was launched on 31st December 2019 of ` 103 lakh crore. It consists of more than 6500 projects across sectors and are classified as per their size and stage of development. These new projects will include housing, safe drinking water, access to clean and affordable energy, healthcare for all, world-class educational institutes, modern railway stations, airports, bus terminals, metro and railway transportation, logistics and warehousing, irrigation projects, etc. The National Infrastructure Pipeline envisions improving the ease of living for each individual citizen in the country. It will also bring in generic and sectoral reforms in the development, operation, and maintenance of these infrastructure projects.

Accelerated development of highways will be undertaken. This will include the development of 2500 Km access control highways, 9000 Km of economic corridors, 2000 Km of coastal and land port roads and 2000 Km of strategic highways. The budget plan had also focused on the completion of the Delhi-Mumbai expressway by 2023 and the construction of the Chennai-Bengaluru Expressway would also be started.

FASTag mechanism encourages us towards greater commercialization of our highways so that NHAI can raise more resources. I propose to monetize at least twelve lots of highway bundles of over 6000 Km before 2024.

Affordable Housing:

In line with the government’s initiative “Housing for All” and Affordable Housing, it has been announced that the tax holiday is granted on the profits earned by developers on affordable projects approved by 31st March 2020. In order to ensure that more people will avail of this benefit, Sitharaman has proposed to extend the date of loan sanction for availing this additional deduction by one more year. The government also plans to extend the additional reduction of INR 1.5 lakhs for interest paid on home loans taken for the purchase of affordable housing by one year in order to boost the supply of affordable houses in the country. The interest deduction of up to INR 3.5 lakh for affordable housing priced below INR 45 lakh as against INR 2 lakh earlier for loans availed until March 31, 2021.

Personal income tax and changes in income tax slab:

In order to minimize the hardship in real estate transactions and provide relief to the middleclass taxpayers who are willing to let go of certain deductions can now make the switch to new rates. The new and simplified personal tax regime, wherein income tax rates will be significantly reduced for the individual taxpayers who refrain certain exemptions and deductions.

Taxable income slab	Existing rate	New rate
Rs 0-5 lakh	No tax	No tax
Rs 5-7.5 lakh	20%	10%
Rs 7.5-10 lakh	20%	15%
Rs 10-12.5 lakh	30%	20%
Rs 12.5-15 lakh	30%	25%
Rs 15 lakh and above	30%	30%

Making Indian real estate “green”:

Eco-friendly or green buildings segments have witnessed a huge growth in the Indian real estate segment. Reports suggest that the Indian green building market alone is poised to increase by 10 billion sq ft. by the year 2022, driven by factors such as increasing awareness level, environmental benefits, and government support.

Concession to real estate transactions and tax rates for co-operatives:

While taxing income from capital gains, business profits and additional sources in favor of transactions in real estate, if the consideration value is more than 5 percent by less than the circle rate then the difference is counted as income both in the hands of the purchaser and seller. In order to reduce hardship in real estate transactions and provide relief to the sector, FM proposed to increase the limit of 5% to 10%. Co-operative societies perform a remarkably significant role in our economy in promoting access to credit, procurement of inputs and marketing of products. These cooperatives are currently taxed at a rate of 30% with surcharge and Cess. FM proposed to present an option to cooperative societies to be taxed at 22% plus 10% surcharge and 4% Cess with no exemption/deductions.

Non-banking financial companies (NBFC’s):

To address the liquidity constraints of the NBFCs/HFCs, post the Union Budget 2019-20, the government formulated a Partial Credit Guarantee Scheme for the NBFCs. To further this support of providing liquidity, a mechanism would be devised. The Government will offer support by guaranteeing securities so floated. The government will allow NBFCs to extend invoice financing to MSMEs. The limit for Non-banking financial companies (NBFCs) under the Securitization and Reconstruction of Financial Assets and Enforcement of Security Interest (SARFAESI) Act 2002 to be eligible for debt recovery is proposed to be decreased from Rs 500 crore to asset size of Rs 100 crore or loan size from subsisting Rs 1 crore to Rs 50 lakh.

Affordable Housing blog Infrastructural development Infrastructure development in India LPP Real Estate Smart Residential Living

Land Pooling Policy 2020

Jan 30,2020 / By Supriya Mogarala / No Comment

Land Pooling Policy (LPP)

Delhi Development Authority (DDA) has formulated a Master Plan 2021 for Delhi to improve city planning in the divided zones under the Land Pooling Policy (LPP). Land Pooling Policy is the consolidation of small land parcels to make them into one larger land for construction in order to accommodate the residential and commercial solutions to the people of Delhi NCR. Under the Land Pooling Policy of Master Plan Delhi-2021, the national capital region will begin the smart city plan.

Land Pooling Policy was announced by the urban development ministry in September 2013. The initial phase would see several landowners/developers/societies to pool their land and assign it to the government for developing a percentage of land and retain a percentage to build infrastructure. Delhi Development Authority and the developers would operate in partnership for the development of the LPP Zone.

As per the Master Plan Delhi-2021, 6 Zones amongst a total of 15 zones come under the Land Pooling Policy. These zones are J Zone of South Delhi, K Zone of South West Delhi, and L zone in West Delhi. These zones will attract population and thus the difficulty of housing solutions will be fixed under the LPP.

Land Pooling Policy has encouraged the development of the Indian real estate market and retaining hopes of the builders. Homebuyers can buy luxurious houses at affordable rates in all the prime localities of Delhi NCR. The cautious use of large land parcels will benefit the stakeholders. It’s more beneficial to invest in the LPP approved projects and experience living around robust infrastructure.

Key Amendments:

Timely development of infrastructure.
Enabling farmers to pay development charges.
Mandatory EWS housing units.
Full utilization of approved floor area ratio (FAR).
Urbanization of 20,000 hectares of land.
95 villages are coming together to develop.
Provision of 14-16 lakh housing units in Delhi.
48-60 percent of the land to be returned back to the owners.

Major benefits of Land Pooling Policy:

The archaic Land Acquisition Policy has been mastered by the LPP, thus promoting proper land-use and bringing out transparency in land management.
Better revenue for the landowners and the government.
Better living at affordable prices.
PPP Model has been introduced, and it is the first time the government sector is working with private entities to construct quality development in the prescribed zones.

Image Source: Quora

The dark red areas in the above map are the residential centers where the maximum population of Delhi resides. The red spots on the map imply that the residential centers of the city that are fully populated cannot accommodate any more residents on the currently available land. Delhi needs to expand to meet the needs of the migrant population which is expected to be 2.3 crores by 2021. The current infrastructure is only equipped to handle 1.5 crores of the 1.9 crore residents.

Distribution of land returned to DE (60%):

Gross residential – 53%
City-level (commercial) – 5%
City-level (public/ semi-public) -2%

Distribution of land returned to DE (48%):

Gross residential – 43%
City-level (commercial) – 3%
City-level (public/semi-public) – 2%

Which areas will come under the ambit of this policy?

To compensate for the 50-60k acres of land requirement in the upcoming years, areas like Narela, Najafgarh, and Bawana will witness land pooling and development. About 89 of the 95 villages have been listed as urban villages that will accommodate development. This system is a part of the master plan for Delhi-2021 according to which the city of Delhi will be developed.

The master plan has highlighted the following roles in infrastructure development for each:

DDA:

Time-bound development of Master Plan Roads.
Create a plan for physical infrastructures such as water supply, sewerage, drainage, provision of social infrastructure, and traffic and transportation infrastructure including metro corridors.
External development in a time-bound manner (external development charges and other development charges acquired for city infrastructure shall be payable by DE on the actual cost incurred by DDA)

Developer Entity (DE):

Approval of layout/ detailed plan from DDA
Demarcation of roads as per layout plan, sector plan, and obtain verification of the same from the concerned authority.
Develop sector/ internal roads/ infrastructure/ services in its share of land (which includes water, power supply lines, rainwater harvesting, STP/ WTP, etc.)
Timely completion of development and its maintenance with all facilities (open spaces, roads, and services till the area is handed over to the Municipal Corporation)

Special Provisions for the Economically Weaker Sections (EWS):

As per the master plan, the developer entity will assure sufficient provision of EWS and other housing as per the Shelter Policy of the Plan. Aside from this, the developer entity shall also declare the prescribed built-up spaces, EWS dwelling units, and LIG Housing components to the DDA as per the policy.

The EWS Housing unit size range within 32- 40 square meters.
50% of EWS housing stock to be maintained by DE for regulated sale for community service personnel and the remaining 50% to be sold to DDA, which will be improved as per CPWD index at the time of handing over.

Development Framework and Control Measures

The Government/ DDA will be answerable for creating and implementing a framework for Land Pooling Policy to:

Frame detailed regulations including process and a timeline for participation in a time-bound manner. The laws shall be put up in public domain for capturing views of all stakeholders by giving a 30-day time frame
Create a dedicated unit for dealing with approvals of Land Pooling applications
Create a Single Window Clearance wherein all the agencies accountable for giving time-bound clearances will meet regularly as per notified timelines.

DDA shall formulate the following norms pertaining to the policy:

The residential Floor Area Ratio (FAR) of 400 for group housing to be applicable on net residential land exclusive of 15 percent FAR reserved for Economically Weaker Section (EWS) housing. Net residential land to be a maximum of 55 percent of gross residential land.
This is explaining the concept of building higher to support more population
FAR for city-level commercial and city-level public/semi-public development to be 250.
Subdivision of residential areas and provision of facilities shall be as per MPD-2021.

How shortly will it be implemented?

Lieutenant Governor Anil Baijal has approved and notified DDA Land Pooling Policy, and the implementation is set to begin once proposals are built on the final draft.

Apart from this, the developers have already started pooling land and we can see housing units soon.

What’s in it for a Delhi resident?

Being a Delhi citizen, you can expect approximately 25 lakh housing units in the coming 10 years. That means cheap and affordable housing.

If you are not a Delhi Resident, you can still invest your money in the land pooling scheme so to be a part of one of the biggest real estate booms in India.

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Category : Smart Residential Living