Guidelines have also been issued to them for the single-window approach to development clearances, land acquisition and assembly through land pooling and sharing arrangements, official sources said today.

They said states had been asked to identify specific programmes for both rural and urban housing as part of the National Housing and Habitat Policy.

The guidelines call for an integrated programme for land assembly and infrastructure development, particularly water, power and sanitation, as a precursor to taking up housing programmes on a priority basis.

States have been advised to amend building bye-laws and regulations of local bodies, construction codes and schedules of specifications and utilise building centres for technology transfer, training andskill upgradation and production of innovative building materials.

They have been asked to evolve innovative schemes for weaker sections and low-income groups using land as a resource by providing additional floor area ratio and transferable development rights. States have also been advised to extend assistance for loan schemes for making available appropriate bulk financial guarantee to this effect. They have been asked to provide sales tax exemption for building material production units.

Sources said states have been asked to identify the nature and form of subsidy component and beneficiary contribution to meet the required margin of 30 per cent.

States must also take urgent steps to revamp their housing boards and they have been asked to tie-up with local municipal bodies to make available infrastructure facilities.

Amendment in land tenure laws to bring about reforms in the land records on a priority basis, is another suggestion made to the states.

Besides, they have been asked to extendassistance for production of building material units using agricultural and industrial wastes in tiny, small and medium sectors.