By 1 2 1 News Reporter
Chandigarh 14th September:-- Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today handed over possession of 8000 flats to slum dwellers under Slum Rehabilitation Scheme at Dhanas during his visit to Chandigarh. PM also expressed his hope for Chandigarh to attain 1st slum free city tag. The PM said, "I hope Chandigarh, one of the most planned city in country, would be the first to achieve slum free city tag."
Speaking on the occasion, the Prime Minister said that this is a big step towards making Chandigarh slum free. The Centre has started Rajiv Awas Yojana to check the problem of slums and 10 lakh housing units are planned to be made available in the next four years. Another scheme for housing to the urban poor involves private sector investment which would help economically weaker and LIG category people build their houses, he added.
The keys of flats were handed over in the presence of Shivraj V. Patil, Governor of Punjab and UT Chandigarh Administrator, Jagan Nath Pahadia, Governor of Haryana, Parkash Singh Badal, Chief Minister of Punjab, Bhupinder Singh Hooda, Chief Minister of Haryana and Dr. Girija Vyas, Union Minister of Housing and Urban Poverty Alleviation.
Dr. Manmohan Singh further said that considering the gravity of the problem of housing in the urban areas, the Centre has taken upon itself the responsibility of providing housing to the urban poor even though housing is a state subject. Around 15.6 lakh dwellings have been approved under Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission ( JNNURM) since 2005. The Prime Minister appreciated the efforts of the Chandigarh Administration and Chandigarh Housing Board in successfully taking up the rehabilitation programme at such a large scale which would benefit around 40,000 persons.
In his remarks, Shivraj V. Patil Governor of Punjab and UT Chandigarh Administrator said that there has been unanimity among all to make the City Beautiful a slum-free city. In all 25000 such dwellings have been planned but if need arises, more such small flats would also be built, he said. Patil announced that in the next phase of such dwellings provision will be made for two rooms instead of the present one room dwelling, to meet the demand by various quarters. Adding that UT Administration would provide still more facilities in the newer such complexes, Shri Patil sought additional financial support from the Centre.
In her address, Union Minister for Housing and Urban Poverty Alleviation Ms Girija Vyas said a slum-free Chandigarh is a milestone in the long journey of a slum-free India. She said while developing slum areas care should be taken that good quality homes are provided. After Food Security, the poor now can look forward to a roof over their heads, added Ms Vyas.
The Ministry of Housing and Urban Poverty Alleviation, Govt. of India has approved construction of around 25000 flats for rehabilitation of the slum-dwellers in UT Chandigarh. The project is being implemented with central assistance to the tune of Rs. 436.30 crore under the component of Basic Services for the Urban Poor of JNNURM. The Chandigarh Administration is contributing Rs. 585.15 crore towards the balance funding of the project through its budget sanctioned by the Ministry of Home Affairs, Govt. of India. All external, internal and social infrastructural facilities have been provided in this new Housing Complex at Dhanas. Facilities like Anganwadi, dispensary, school and police post have been provided within the Complex. Other infrastructure provided in the Complex include tube well for drinking water supply, boosting arrangement for providing water up to roof tops of all storeys and a modern sewerage treatment plant for treatment of sewage.
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