Date:12/09/2007 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2007/09/12/stories/2007091253971600.htm

National

Buddhadeb for law to provide housing for poor

Staff Reporter

Financially weak not benefiting from real estate boom
Involve all sections in development activities

Kolkata: It is the State government’s responsibility to address the housing concerns of the financially weak people, West Bengal Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee said here on Tuesday.

“There is a real estate boom in both government and private sector but the financially weak are not benefiting from those projects,” he said at a seminar and workshop organised to assess the progress made on the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM) and other poverty alleviation measures.

While seeking a “holistic approach” that would provide a “convergence between infrastructure development and human development” in the municipal areas, he said legislation had to be brought in to provide housing for the financially weak.

Dwellings could also be set up for at least one lakh slum dwellers.

Pointing out that the first phase of work under the JNNURM was weak, he said that in order to initiate the pace of work, all sections of society should be involved in development activities.

Finance Minister Ashim Dasgupta said that in case land was to be bought, the cost would be borne by his department.

The financially weak might be provided low-interest easy-instalment loans.

At least Rs. 12,000 crore worth projects would be taken up in the State under the JNNURM in the next five years, Ashok Bhattacharya, Minister for Municipal affairs and Urban Development, said.