The Hindu : Tamil Nadu / Chennai News : Sudarssanam miffed at Minister’s attitude

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Sudarssanam miffed at Minister’s attitude

Special Correspondent

CHENNAI: Congress Legislature Party leader D. Sudarssanam on Friday expressed displeasure in the Assembly over the attitude of Suba Thangavelan, Slum Clearance and Accommodation Control Minister, on the proposed eviction of slum dwellers in Bhojaraja Nagar in north Chennai from the Railways land.

During Zero Hour, Mr. Sudarssanam said he was raising the issue since 2006. The House had discussed it twice, in 2006 and early this year. An assurance was given that the slum dwellers would be given alternative sites.

In February 2009 Electricity MinisterArcot N. Veeraswami had contacted the then Railway Minister and got the eviction move deferred. Now, the Railways had served notice on the people, asking them to vacate by middle of this month.

When Mr. Suba Thangavelan remarked that the issue had been raised without prior intimation to him, the Congress leader replied that he had told the Minister about it a couple of days ago.

Pointing out that his party was an ally of the State government, Mr. Sudarssanam said the Minister, who was soft pedalling on the issue, could not ensure any progress in the matter.

P.K. Sekar Babu (AIADMK), referring to infrastructure projects of the Railways and the Chennai Corporation in the area, said the slum dwellers had been left in lurch.

Citing an order of the Union Rural Development Ministry in October 2007 that it was for the project proponents to ensure that the affected were given alternative sites, Mr. Thangavelan said the Ministry had not responded to several letters sent by the Slum Clearance Board.

He mentioned the Metro Rail project and said that it was proposed to remove 500 huts at Saidapet.

A sum of Rs.15 crore would be earmarked for rehabilitation of the slum dwellers in the area, for which Rs.3.75 crore had been paid in advance to his department.

The Minister said that the matter would be taken up with the Railways.

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