The Hindu 23.11.2010
Slum-dwellers protest against eviction notices
VISAKHAPATNAM: Residents of Ambedkarnagar at Chinamushidivada laid siege to the municipal corporation office on Monday deploring the eviction notices issued to them and demanding that they be provided power and water until the slum was developed under a government housing scheme.
A large number of residents who came to the municipal office on Monday, the day on which grievances are received, stormed the office of Commissioner V.N. Vishnu.
According to State vice-president of Progressive Organisation for Women M. Lakshmi, who led the protest along with K. Ravi of Murikivada Nivasula Samkshema Sangham, 308 families have been living on the konda poramboke land in Survey No.114. The land was taken off VUDA auction in 2004 after a letter by the then District Collector Praveen Prakash. Subsequently, Municipal Commissioner Mukesh Kumar Meena wrote a letter to the district Collector recommending issue of Land Possession Certificates.
The Collector wrote to the Pendurty Tehsildar. While LPCs were not issued, the MRO handed over a total of 35 acres, including the four acres on which they were living, to the GVMC, Ms. Lakshmi said.
The lists from the time Mr. Meena wrote the letter contained 308 beneficiaries. However, in the eviction notice issued by the Town Planning Department, 240 families were mentioned, Ms. Lakshm said wondering how eviction notices were issued stating that dwellings were built afresh.
Municipal Commissioner V.N. Vishnu said the slum was included in RAY for construction of ‘G+3' structures. In the meanwhile, a committee, comprising two members each from the Town Planning and Urban Community Development wings and three members of the slum-dwellers' association would identify beneficiaries.
