The New Indian Express 03.08.2010

Spotlight on Iraveli slums

The condition of the four main slums - Thashkent, Panan, Thuruthy and Konchery - remains pathetic. Most of the residents of the area are labourers who work in the fishing sector.

According to M S Girish, councillor of Iraveli, much work has been carried out in these areas. “A number of public toilets have been built and many have been renovated.

Development activities have also been carried out utilising the People’s Planning fund. In all, 105 houses were built under the BSUP scheme. Another 16 houses were built using the JNNURM fund. The lighting problems in the area and the road renovation works were solved to an extent using the division fund.” He says that 63 families were rehabilitated under the multihousing scheme using various funds. These families were rehabilitated in the Iraveli from the Kalvathy slum area. Councillors from both the areas claim to have worked for this scheme. “An Area Development Scheme hall was built for the Kudumbashree utilising the NSDP fund. The Iraveli Mehboob Park was redesigned and a playground was introduced.

The division fund was also utilised for building and renovating the drainage network.” However the area has many other issues to be addressed. Water shortage is the most important among them. Housing also needs to be developed. Some of the residents allege that the slum development programmes were not carried out effectively in the area.

Lack of proper sanitation facilities and insufficient number of public taps are also the burning issues which will be the main issues in the coming elections.