DHARWAD: Eight slums in Dharwad are being developed at a cost of Rs. 3.27 crore by the Karnataka State Slum Clearance Board under the "Nirmala Jyoti" scheme, district in-charge Minister Jagadish Shettar has said.

Speaking after performing the "bhoomi puja" for works to be taken up at a cost of Rs. 30 lakh at Bhavikatti Plot Slum here on Monday, he said under the project, drinking water, roads, drainage, power supply and other amenities would be provided for the people of the slum.

The Minister said Bhavikatti Plot Slum was being developed under the "Nirmal Jyoti" scheme of the Centre and the State Government would release funds based on the need. He listed out the allocations made for north Karnataka, the Karnataka Institute of Medical Sciences (KIMS), Hubli airport, etc.

He said the Government had begun the process of acquiring 650 acres of land for the airport expansion.

The Dharwad North MP lauded the initiative of the Government to improve basic amenities in the slums and welcomed the move to give loans to Sthree Shakti self-help groups at 4 per cent interest.

Former MLA Chandrakanth Bellad, and former council member Chandana Savadi spoke.

Presiding over the function, former Minister S.R. Morey underscored the need for regularising some of the slums in the city and take steps for their development.

Executive Engineer of the slum clearance board M.F. Narayanakar said 109 slums had been identified in Dharwad of which 104 had been officially declared as slums.

These slums were being developed in a phased manner. As many as 782 houses had been constructed in Dharwad for slum-dwellers, he said.

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