The Rangamatia Cluster Development Project has finally begun with infrastructure development in the area.

The
project proposed to be undertaken under the Centrally funded Rajiv Awas
Yojana (RAY) in 2012 involves construction of housing units and
infrastructure development of the area. BMC has identified about seven
acre land for the project.But, the objection of the existing slum
dwellers of Rangamatia has hit the project as it proposed relocation of
three other slums through a housing project.

As per original
proposal, residents of three other slums were supposed to be
rehabilitated to Rangamatia slum through a major housing project under
RAY. The decision on housing project has not been finalised yet. “Since
Rangamatia slum dwellers did not have any problem with infrastructure
development, we have begun with the water supply work in the area,” said
a senior BMC official. The Odisha Public Health and Engineering
Organisation (PHEO) has been assigned the charge of water supply in the
area. The water supply to the slum will cost Rs 1.16 crore. A tender for
providing adequate electricity supply has also been floated by the BMC.

After
housing project was stalled due to repeated protests by slum dwellers,
BMC approached the General Administration (GA) department to provide
alternate land. The General Administration department has recently
issued alternate land about 1.5 km from Rangamatia in Gadakana Mouza.
The number of housing units to be constructed is yet to be finalised.