The BMC had commissioned the survey in the city under Rajiv Awas Yojana (RAY). The survey has been completed in 267 out of total 300 slums in the city. The survey was started in February last year. At a review meeting held some time back, it was found that information from around 27 slums was not available.

According to the report submitted at the meeting by the NGO, which has been roped in by the BMC to conduct the survey, many slum dwellers refused to participate in the survey.

“Many slum dwellers have their own houses on the land provided to them in these slums. They are apprehensive that they may be vacated if they participate in the survey,” said BMC RAY officer Srimanta Mishra.

Out of 27 slums, the survey work on seven was started recently after the slum dwellers agreed to participate. But, the people of 20 slums are still unwilling to provide details.  Ranjan Jena, Corporator of Ward-9 where six slums are located, said problem was with the officials conducting the survey. “They have not carried out any awareness programme about the survey in the ward till date. Hence, the slum dwellers are apprehensive of the consequences of the survey,” said Jena.

The delay in completion of the survey is in turn delaying the completion of geographic information system (GIS) that the Housing and Urban Development (H&UD) Department is trying to implement in the city.

The socio-economic data will provide the residence details and the name of beneficiaries of the slum dwellers which is required for mapping them in the GIS.

BMC Mayor AN Jena said they are trying to devise ways to conduct the survey in the slums where it has not been done yet. The deadline for all the survey work and GIS mapping for the city ends this month.