Resettlement colony turns into a slum?

By J.S. Ifthekhar

HYDERABAD, JUNE 27. They wake up in a cold sweat to the ominous hissing. The inky darkness only adds to their fright. Before they could light a lamp or lay hand on a stick, a shrill cry rents the air as one more person is caught in the throes of snake bite.

These past few months life for the displaced persons of the Nandanavanam project on the city outskirts has been one damn thing after another. Snakes, scorpions, gudamba and goondas have been their constant companions. The transition from the Musi riverbed to Karmanghat has been like jumping from the frying pan into the fire. No less.

Three deaths in as many months on account of the poisonous reptiles has left the Nandanavanam evacuees shaken. The absence of medical facilities in the vicinity has further compounded the problem. A mobile dispensary used to visit the area twice a week but even this has stopped. "Last week a young housewife, Rani, died of snake bite and four days ago I was bitten," says Ramanjaneyulu, a ragpicker.

The rehabilitation colony with 1,034 dwelling units is gradually turning into a sprawling slum with garbage dumps and unhygienic conditions increasing by the day. The sale of gudumba transported from Dhoolpet and the drunken brawls are robbing peace of the residents. "There is no security to women here with drunken persons and goondas moving freely," says Balamma.

The Nandanavanam project has not brought relief to all the evacuees of the Musi riverbed with 150 families still remaining shelterless. They are now camping in a dozen-odd sheds for the last two years in the fond hope of getting houses. They live huddled in the dingy sheds with gaping holes on the asbestos roof. "We have a miserable time whenever it rains. Whatever little we have gets drenched and there is no place to sleep. We are exposed to sun and rain here," wails Satayya.

Many wonder why they are being denied houses when a large number of them are lying empty. Moreover, there is plenty of area and there is no reason why the Government could not accommodate every family shifted from the surrounding areas of the riverbed, asks Nagesh, an auto driver.

For most of the families here life has not been the same again. Being removed from their place of work, starting from scratch has not been easy. Some are still in a limbo, finding it difficult to pick up the threads of life. Most of the persons here collect waste papers, some work as auto drivers and some do odd jobs. But after shifting from Chaderghat their livelihood is hit badly. Women who used to work as housemaids and contribute to the family kitty are now idle. "We have now to travel 20 km for doing our old job. Is it possible?" asks Yasmeen.

The displaced persons wish they were also extended the benefit of various schemes like DWCRA, Adarana and Deepam. But, they are faced with a Hobson's choice. A question of `put up or shut up.'

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