Slum-dwellers stage dharna

Hundreds of slum-dwellers, under the leadership of the CPI(M) city unit, staged a dharna as part of their ‘Chalo GVMC' on Friday opposing the shifting of slums.

A strong contingent of policemen kept a close watch all through the protest.

Municipal Commissioner B. Ramanjaneyulu, who received a memorandum from the protesters, gave them details of the circumstances under which Indiranagar residents were proposed to be shifted.

The Commissioner agreed to hold another round of discussion with them on Saturday.

Addressing the protesters, party district secretary Ch. Narsinga Rao accused the GVMC of relocating slums with a view to handing over government sites to the rich and the influential. The slum-dwellers should be accommodated at the same place and all amenities provided to them.

A struggle would be launched seeking house-sites for the poor, he said.

He said the Gangavaram port-displaced were provided houses under the JNNURM though it was the responsibility of the port management.

CPI(M) city secretary B. Ganga Rao said political leaders and officials were indifferent to the plight of 1.4 lakh poor people for whom houses should be provided. He alleged misuse of 15,300 houses constructed under JNNURM.

CITU State vice-president A. Ajay Sarma, CPI(M) city secretariat member V.S. Padmanabha Raju, and CPI(M) floor leader in the GVMC Botta Eswaramma spoke.