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Slum Development / Housing

CMDA-like body for Madurai soon

Wednesday, 23 December 2009 02:06 administrator
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The Hindu 23.12.2009

CMDA-like body for Madurai soon

Special Correspondent

Getting building plan approvals will be easy

— Photo: S. James

AIDING DEVELOPMENT: State Housing and Urban Development Principal Secretary Surjit K. Chaudhary presiding over a review meeting in the city on Tuesday. Collector N. Mathivanan is seen.

MADURAI: Madurai and Coimbatore would soon have a planning authority on the lines of the CMDA (Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority), said Tamil Nadu Housing and Urban Development Principal Secretary Surjit K. Chaudhary.

Speaking to reporters after presiding over a review meeting of Madurai region here on Tuesday, he said that a proposal to establish such an authority in the two cities had been sent to the Government for approval.

With urban development taking place at a fast pace, such an authority would not only facilitate people to obtain building plan approvals and licences quickly, but also show the government’s commitment towards development of tier-II cities. By these measures, the public would ultimately be benefitted.

Following complaints from applicants about delay in getting plan approvals and licences for buildings, Housing Minister Parithi Illamvazhuthi and Chief Secretary K. Sripathi had directed him to look into them, he said. As a first step, Mr. Surjit said, he had visited Coimbatore region (Coimbatore, Erode, Tirupur) last month and after a review of the applications received by the authorities, a drive was conducted. On Tuesday, over 80 per cent of the pendency was cleared, he added.

In Madurai region (Madurai, Dindigul, Theni and Virudhunagar), pending applications were categorised under special buildings, layout and reclassification categories. Applications which were pending for over six months, over 45 days and over 30 days were also examined.

For instance, in Madurai, out of 83 pending papers, 65 were cleared, while the balance would be examined by officials and disposed of swiftly. One paper was pending for over six months, he noted.

In a bid to ensure that applicants had filled the applications properly, a check list would be provided to them, Mr. Surjit said. Licensed surveyors and architects were also being told to adhere to the check-list.

LPA funds

The Local Planning Authority in the State-level collected Rs. 150 crore annually towards infrastructure development and amenity charges. However, it had come to light that the authorities in LPA, Madurai, had not collected the charges from new apartment builders, which alone accounted for Rs. 19 crore.

The TN Commissioner (Town and Country Planning) Ashok Dongre would inquire into the non-collection of infrastructure and amenity charges by the Local Planning Authority, Madurai. “It is a loss of revenue and action will be taken against erring officers,” he said.

The New Town Development Authority (NTDA) functioning at Palkalai Nagar near here would be merged with the Madurai LPA.

Collector N. Mathivanan, Mr. Dongre and Assistant Collector (Training) Rohini Ramadas participated.

Last Updated on Wednesday, 23 December 2009 02:08
 

Slum children at receiving end

Monday, 16 November 2009 09:18 administrator
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The New Indian Express 16.11.2009

Slum children at receiving end

Nalini Ravichandran


VASANTH, 15, works at a clothes shop in the bazaar area of Vyasarpadi. He leaves home at 9 am and returns by 8.30 pm.

Given an option, Vasanth would pursue schooling rather than go to work. It is an option that has been denied to him.

Vasanth is among the 17 million child labourers in the country. In all, there are 70 million school dropouts in India. Till last year, Vasanth was a student of the Corporation High School in Kalayanapuram.

But authorities claimed he was a mischief monger and forced his parents — both daily wage labourers — to withdraw him from school.

“Teachers used to cook up reasons to beat me up and insult me,” alleges Vasanth, who is a Dalit. He claims he was victimised ever since he noticed a lizard in the mid-day meal served in the school three years ago and alerted the school authorities.

Sathya, 17, a slum dweller, dropped out of the Corporation school in Ganeshpuram after he flunked his exams.

At present, he is taking private tuition, which has created a big hole in his parents’ pocket: Rs 3,000 as admission fee and Rs 600 as monthly fee.

“This is a regular feature here,” says N Thangaraj of Vyasarpadi-based SCTEDS (Slum Children Sports Talent Education Development Society), which is a partner organisation of CRY (Child Rights and You). “After Class VI, most students dropout of school. Lack of committed teachers is one of the main reasons for their inability to retain students in schools,” he claims.

“Their right to free education must be protected. At present, the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act, 2009 does not cover kids below six years of age and those in the 15 to 18 years age group. Eighth pass outs are inadequately qualified — either for vocations or for life,” says CRY DGM P Krishnamurthy.

High cost of private education, need to work to support their families and little interest in studies are the main reasons given by three-fourths of the dropouts for skipping school, says Sahaya Teresa of CRY.

Last Updated on Monday, 16 November 2009 09:22
 

Survey of 422 slums in city planned

Thursday, 12 November 2009 05:14 administrator
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The Hindu 12.11.2009

Survey of 422 slums in city planned

Deepa H Ramakrishnan

CHENNAI: The Chennai Corporation will soon commission a study on the household and livelihood profile of 422 slums across the city. While it is to effectively implement the schemes funded under the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission, the data would also help the civic body assess other welfare measures for those living in slums.

The Corporation will float tenders inviting agencies to conduct the survey for gathering the details, including delivery of civic amenities and housing to the poor. The 422 slums have been identified under the Basic Services for Urban Poor Scheme Phase I and II. A one-time grant-in-aid of Rs.10 lakh to conduct the socio-economic survey would be provided by the National Buildings Organisation, a part of the Ministry of Housing and Urban Poverty Alleviation.

As per the NBO, the agency coordinating various types of socio-economic surveys required for effective implementation of JNNURM and other urban poverty alleviation programme, the civic body must have a database on the slums, poverty and livelihood profiles. The Corporation would also have to ensure that requirements of the urban poor are adequately reflected with supporting database in City Development Plans.

“We had done a survey of slums several years ago, but now the needs of people have changed… even slums have changed. Many places are not slums in the old sense any more,” an official of the Corporation said.

Last Updated on Thursday, 12 November 2009 05:19
 
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