Date:18/02/2005 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2005/02/18/stories/2005021805901100.htm

National

Maharashtra's strategy to remove slums

By Our Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI, FEB. 17. The Maharashtra Government has decided to adopt a twin-pronged strategy to remove slums that have sprung up after 2000 while preparing an action programme for the affected people.

The Maharashtra Chief Minister, Vilasrao Deshmukh, who met the Congress president, Sonia Gandhi, here today, told presspersons that the State Government would work out the programme for those affected in keeping with the commitments made in the party manifesto and the Common Minimum Programme of the United Progressive Alliance Government.

Mr. Deshmukh warned that under a stringent law enacted by the State in 2002, action would be taken against officials in whose jurisdiction new slums cropped up. Under this Act, such offences were cognisable and non-bailable. He said around 90,000 hutments were removed in the first phase.

To a question, Mr. Deshmukh said the Congress and the Nationalist Congress Party in their joint manifesto had given 2000 as the cut-off date for regularisation of slums. He said the State Government had directed the Municipal Corporation of Mumbai to demolish only such slums which had come up later.

The State Government, he maintained, would keep in mind the humanitarian aspect while carrying out all-round development of the city.

The Mumbai Regional Congress president, Gurudas Kamat, was with Mr. Deshmukh during the meeting with Ms. Gandhi.

He dismissed reports that the party members were against Mr. Deshmukh as they had approached the high command with their grievances regarding the removal of slums.