Date:07/08/2007 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2007/08/07/stories/2007080766370100.htm

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Madurai to become slum-free city by 2012

MADURAI: With an ambitious plan of becoming a slum-free city by 2011-12, the Madurai Corporation will construct 30,951 houses and improve infrastructure in 208 slum areas for the benefit of the poor in the next five years.

The council gave its approval for the development of 25 slums and identified beneficiaries living there at a special meeting conducted here on Monday. The construction work for 79 slum areas in the first and second phases would begin soon, the Superintending Engineer, K. Sakthivel, said.

All the dwelling units with thatched/asbestos/tiled roofs will be reconstructed with concrete roofing. Each house measuring 273 square feet will have a living room, bedroom, kitchen and an attached toilet.

The Union Government will give 50 per cent grant and State Government 20 per cent grant for each of the houses to be constructed at an estimated cost of Rs. 92,000. The remaining 30 per cent should be borne by the beneficiary. The infrastructure of these slum areas would be developed with a 50 per cent grant from the Centre and State Government.

“The Corporation proposes to raise the remaining 30 per cent through loan from the Tamil Nadu Urban Finance and Infrastructure Development Corporation,” the Corporation Commissioner, D.J. Dinakkaren, said.

The beneficiaries would have to pay Rs. 40 a month towards drinking water and maintenance of underground drainage facility.

When members raised the issue of cost escalation of construction materials, Mr. Sakthivel said that any excess cost in construction of house should be borne by the beneficiaries.

The Commissioner said that only one house would be given to one family, even if they had constructed and rented out multiple dwelling units, on patta land.