The Indian Express         30.11.2013

VMC demolishes over 250 hutments to build garden

Over 250 hutments, that are part of a slum in Gotri locality, were demolished on Friday by the Vadodara Municipal Corporation (VMC). The slums will make way for a public park.

The demolitions that were part of the plan to make the city slum-free began on Thursday. According to VMC officials, the slum dwellers living in the hutments were allotted flats last year under the slum rehabilitation schemes across the city, especially in the Tandalja area.

Officials also claimed that the slums in the area were being used by tenants of the owners, and in some cases, the owners were found living in the slums after renting out their allotted flats. However, the plot, which is originally reserved for a public swimming pool, may be converted into a public garden. A proposal to effect the change has been moved by Municipal Councilor Rajesh Ayare and is pending for VMC's approval.

"There is a high-tension wire passing through the area and it is risky to have a swimming pool there. It would be better to convert the area into a public garden as there is no green space in the area. I have requested the VMC to transfer this land into the green belt so that the garden can be developed accordingly," said Ayare.