The Hindu 19.04.2013
Stone laid for housing project to rehabilitate slum dwellers
Minister visits corporation office; reviews functioning.
Slums in the State will be eradicated in a phased
manner, said Minister for Urban Affairs and Minority Welfare
Manjalamkuzhi Ali.
He was speaking after laying the
foundation stone for flats to be built at Mattamburam in Madakkathara
panchayath, near here, on Thursday as a corporation initiative to
eradicate slums in the city.
“The State government
has envisaged a mammoth project of Rs. 6,000 crore to rehabilitate slum
dwellers. The Central fund for an amount of Rs. 3,000 crore has already
been sanctioned,” he said.
The municipalities and
corporations in the State have been facing many problems, including
shortage of staff and infrastructure, the Minister said. He promised to
take initiatives to solve these issues.
Mayor I.P. Paul presided over the function. Therambil Ramakrishnan, MLA; Deputy Mayor Subi Babu; and others participated.
The
flats for rehabilitating slum dwellers will be built on 18 acres of
land at Mattampuram at a cost of Rs. 4.5 crore. Costford is building the
flats. The building, which can accommodate 120 families, is expected to
be completed in 18 months.
There will be facilities
like anganwadis and library in the complex. Each family has to pay an
amount of Rs. 17,000 to own the flat.
Earlier, the Minister visited the Thrissur Corporation office and reviewed the functioning of various departments.
The
Minister asked the corporation to find ways to improve its own fund.
Development activities should be done in private-public participation
mode, he said.
