Gujarat govt will follow the Dharavi model, will unveil an action plan soon.
The Gujarat government is often criticised by its detractors for being pro-industry. But the government is all set to announce a State Slum Rehabilitation Policy and unveil an elaborate action plan to improve the condition of slums in the major cities of Gujarat.
Highly-placed sources in the state government said, “The government has decided to formulate a policy for development of slum dwellers in the major cities. The government will follow the Dharavi Redevelopment Project (Mumbai slum rehabilitation plan) model. However, the nodal agency to execute the policy and action plan will be different.”
“Maharashtra has a separate Slum Rehabilitation Authority (SRA) which we do not need in Gujarat, as the scale and nature of the slums in cities like Ahmedabad, Surat and Rajkot is different from that in Mumbai. Maharashtra has also started slum rehabilitation programmes in cities like Pune and Nagpur. We may follow them.
The urban local bodies may be given additional powers and responsibilities for the slum rehabilitation, which they are already doing at present, though at a small scale,” said the sources.
Sources said the state government had initiated a study through an NGO for developing the proper model for the slum development.
“The government may identify the slum pockets and start PPP projects for their development. Government may sign pacts with private developers and ask them to build houses for slum dwellers. In return, the developers will be provided land for commercial use at the same place. Government will chalk out various other plans to involve the private developers in the process,”’ said the sources.
The state government is also considering amending the various urban development acts such as the Gujarat Town Planning & Urban Development Act 1976, the Bombay Provincial Municipal Corporations Act, 1949, the Gujarat Municipalities Act, 1963, and the Gujarat Slum Areas (improvement, clearance and redevelopment) Act, 1976, if required. The government may also include the projection and pattern of expansion of slums in the state at planning stage itself, so that the slums dwellers can be provided the best possible facilities.”
“Kumari Shelja, union minister of state for housing & urban poverty alleviation, has also written to the Gujarat government to submit a plan of action for the slum development in three months. The union ministry has also asked the state to frame a land use policy keeping in mind the development of the slums,” a source said.
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