Hindustan Times (Patiala)

Housing for govt officials gets costlier with hike in licence fee

- Anisha Dutta anisha.dutta@hindustant­imes.com

NEW DELHI: Government accommodat­ion allotted to officials under the General Pool Residentia­l Accommodat­ion (GPRA) category is set to get costlier starting in July. The Centre has issued an order to increase the flat rate of licence fee recoverabl­e for the accommodat­ion throughout the country.

The ministry of housing and urban affairs has issued an order, a copy of which has been reviewed by Hindustan Times, increasing the licence fee rates for all types of government accommodat­ions — from type I to type VIII— based on the level of pay matrix under the 7th Pay Commission.

A vast majority of government officials live in accommodat­ion allowed by the Central government. To be clear, licence fee is deducted monthly from the salaries of officials who are allotted government accommodat­ion. “it is deducted from the gross salary of central government employees. Nearly 80-90% of officers and staff occupy government quarters. A nominal rent is fixed for the sake of upkeep and that will increase,” an official said, requesting anonymity.

“The revised rates of licence fee would be effective from 1st July, 2020. Al ministries/department­s are requested to take action to recover the revised licence fee in accordance with these orders in respect of accommodat­ion under their control all over the country,” it added.

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