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Slum Development / Housing

Water at subsidised rates for slums from April

Thursday, 21 January 2010 11:14 administrator
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Indian Express 21.01.2009

Water at subsidised rates for slums from April

The Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation’s general body on Tuesday passed a resolution to provide water to consumers residing in slums at subsidised rates, and also agreed to an increase in charges for commercial consumers.

Accordingly, people residing in slums would now have to pay Rs. 1.75 for every 1,000 litres of water while the commercial consumers would have to pay Rs. 35 for the same quantity. The resolution would come into effect from April 1, 2010.

There are a total of 67 slum areas in the township of Pimpri Chinchwad, a majority of which would now be demolished to make way for houses being built under slum rehabilitation schemes under Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission.

While planning charges for water, it was decided that flat owners should be charged Rs 1,276 per year while slum dwellers be charged at Rs 885 per year. But after that, PCMC decided to introduced water meters and charge on the amount of the water used.

Later, following the guidelines of the central and the state government which stipulated that slum dwellers be supplied water at subsidised rate, municipal commissioner Ashesh Sharma decided to reduce water charges for consumers residing in slums.

Following which, it was proposed that slum dwellers be charged Rs 1.75 per 1,000 litres for water consumption upto 30,000 litres. While those who consume from 30,000 and above per year be charged Rs. 5.50 .

Last Updated on Thursday, 21 January 2010 11:36
 

One lakh houses to be built under PPP mode

Wednesday, 20 January 2010 07:44 administrator
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The New Indian Express 20.01.2010

One lakh houses to be built under PPP mode

Express News Service


BHUBANESWAR: To deal with the housing crisis in towns, the State Government has decided to construct one lakh houses under the public private partnership (PPP) mode.

This was decided at a highlevel meeting presided over by Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik at the Secretariat here today. This will tackle the problem of growing number of slum-dwellers as houses will be provided to low income groups at a minimum interest rate.

Night shelters will also be set up in Bhubaneswar, Cuttack, Berhampur, Rourkela and Puri as a large number of people in these urban centres spend their nights in the open.

Government offices in the district headquarter towns will also be brought under one roof. Now offices of different departments are scattered in district headquarter towns.

More buildings will be available for other purposes and this will also save a lot of money which is spent on rents for offices.

Establishment of medical colleges in the private sector was also discussed at the meeting. It was proposed that hospitals with more number of beds in some of the backward areas can be converted into medical colleges with the participation of private sector.

Increasing employment potential in rural areas to youths by imparting them training in driving was discussed. It was proposed that driving schools will be set up in the district headquarter towns by reputed companies including the Tatas, Ashok Leyland and Maruti.

Besides driving, training on maintenance of vehicles will also be imparted in these schools.

Proposal to construct multiplexes in some of the gram panchayat headquarters was discussed. The multiplexes will have video parlours and at least 40 shops. The State Government will provide only infrastructural support for these proposed projects while construction and other responsibilities will be taken up by private parties.

Planning and Coordination Minister AU Singhdeo, Development Commissioner SP Nanda, Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister Bijay Patnaik attended.

Last Updated on Wednesday, 20 January 2010 07:46
 

Magsaysay winner to help build houses for slum dwellers

Saturday, 16 January 2010 11:09 administrator
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The Hindu 16.01.2010

Magsaysay winner to help build houses for slum dwellers

Staff Reporter

BHUBANESWAR: Slum dwellers in the capital city may soon realise the dream of owning concrete houses of their own.

Ramon Magsaysay awardee Jockin Arputham, known for his contribution in making lives of slum dwellers in Mumbai better, is likely to play a major role in construction of about 2,000 dwelling units in three slums of Bhubaneswar.

Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) had floated expression of interest for construction of dwelling units seeking assistance of non-government organisation after no contractor reportedly turned up to participate in the tender invited for development of slum clusters apparently apprehending loss.

Fruitful discussion

“We had a fruitful discussion with Mr. Arputham. Mumbai-based Society for Promotion of Area Resource Centres (SPARC), which the 2000 Magsaysay winner was associated with, is ready to work in our slums. The contract would soon be awarded to SPARC,” said BMC commissioner Gadadhar Parida.

He said under Basic Service to Urban Poor (BSUP), union government would provide assistance to the tune of Rs. 1.7 lakh for construction of each dwelling unit. However, the cost of construction would come around Rs. 2.5 lakh.

“As each slum dweller has to bear 10 per cent of total cost, still Rs. 30,000 per unit has to be arranged. To meet the gap, we went for partnership with NGO as contractors thought projects would be unviable for them for which there was no taker for these projects,” Mr. Parida said.

BMC Slum Development Officer Dillip Routray said 12 clusters in Bharatpur, five clusters in Dumduma and one cluster in Nayapalli Sabarsahi having 1173, 754 and 73 housing units respectively would be developed.

“We hope to complete these projects within two years. Required fund is being sourced from Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission,” Mr. Routray said.

Meanwhile, BMC is readying to build a transit house for slum dwellers at Nayapalli Sabarsahi as inhabitants could take shelter during construction of their houses.

Last Updated on Saturday, 16 January 2010 11:11
 
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