The Hindu 23.11.2010
Slum-dwellers protest against eviction notices
Staff Reporter
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.
