The Times of India 09.09.2010
SMC to clear bottlenecks from historic Gopi Talav
SURAT: Surat Municipal Corporation (SMC) has started the process of shifting the urban poor residing near the historic Gopi Talav at Navsari Bazaar to the newly constructed EWS quarters in Kosad.
Official sources said there are more than 585 shanties in and around the historic Gopi Talav. The distribution of EWS house allotment forms will start in the next few days and the process will be completed before municipal elections get over.
Gopi Talav, built in 15th century by a local king known as Malek Gopi, is today one of the largest open spaces (about 9.6 hectare) in the walled city. The historic lake had long been ignored and most parts have been encroached upon by hutments from past many years.
Earlier, SMC had drawn up a plan to develop the historic lake by setting up recreational and other facilities for citizens. Once the hutments will be cleared from in an around the lake, then the civic body will take up the project.
"The shifting of urban poor from in and around Gopi Talav will be taken up only after the elections. Meanwhile, we will start form distribution for allotment of EWS houses in Kosad," executive engineer of central zone Jatin Desai said.
Official sources said there are more than 585 shanties in and around the historic Gopi Talav. The distribution of EWS house allotment forms will start in the next few days and the process will be completed before municipal elections get over.
Gopi Talav, built in 15th century by a local king known as Malek Gopi, is today one of the largest open spaces (about 9.6 hectare) in the walled city. The historic lake had long been ignored and most parts have been encroached upon by hutments from past many years.
Earlier, SMC had drawn up a plan to develop the historic lake by setting up recreational and other facilities for citizens. Once the hutments will be cleared from in an around the lake, then the civic body will take up the project.
"The shifting of urban poor from in and around Gopi Talav will be taken up only after the elections. Meanwhile, we will start form distribution for allotment of EWS houses in Kosad," executive engineer of central zone Jatin Desai said.
