The GVMC will embark on a wider consultation process before arriving at a decision on de-listing of slums in the city. Presently, the number of slums is put at 836. But, a baseline survey conducted a few months ago brought it down to 216.
The GVMC is considering a proposal to delist the slums that do not meet the criteria of having only 20 huts, lack of infrastructure etc. This will enable people in the 216 slums get houses under Rajiv Awas Yojana (RAY), which, in turn, leads to the city becoming slum-free.
On the other hand, there is a concern that facilities that are to be created under National Urban Health Mission, sanctioned to the city with the number of slums put at 836 and 40 per cent of population living in them, may suffer if de-listing is taken up. Buildings under the health mission should be constructed in a slum or close to it.
Before taking a decision, the GVMC would hold a meeting with MLAs and other stakeholders, a senior officer told The Hindu on Wednesday. The number of slums has gone up considerably from 251 before the GVMC was formed, as slums in Gajuwaka and various localities in the 32 villages that merged with the erstwhile corporation were included in it, expecting that funds would be sanctioned liberally for infrastructure development under the JNNURM.
However, this drew criticism from organisations such as ARTD (Urban) working among slum-dwellers.
They said slums that were badly in need of improvement were ignored and funds were spent in areas already developed, showing them as slums. Even at higher official levels, there was consternation over such a large number of slums. Subsequently, the GVMC undertook the survey with criteria such as density of population, infrastructure, economic status, and health.
In the earlier exercise that took the number to 836, lack of infrastructure and physical conditions were major factors.
