The Hindu : Other States / Orissa News : Civic body eviction drive on hold

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Tuesday, Feb 26, 2008
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Civic body eviction drive on hold

Correspondent

CMC office gheraoed

Originally, February 26 decided for the eviction drive
Eviction meant to benefit Posco, says CPI(M) leader

CUTTACK: Following massive public resistance, the city civic body authorities on Monday decided not to go ahead with the proposed eviction drive of slum areas adjoining Taladanda canal. The civic authorities had issued a notice to the slum dwellers on February 16 to vacate the place and had decided to launch the eviction drive on February 26.

But on Monday, more than 1,000 slum dwellers under the leadership of Slum Development Confederation president Subash Singh gheraoed the office of the Cuttack Municipal Corporation (CMC) and said they would protest against the proposed eviction drive. They warned that they would not budge an inch from their slums till the civic body rehabilitated them.

“The Orissa Municipal Corporation Act clearly spells out that no eviction of poor and slum dwellers will be made until an alternative arrangement is made for the evacuees,” Mr. Singh said demanding that the CMC first rehabilitate the slum dwellers properly before grounding their shelter in slums.

Memorandum

“We have submitted a memorandum to CMC Commissioner R N Kar and he has assured that the proposed eviction drive from Tuesday will be put off,” Mr. Singh added. At least 20 slums located along the banks of Taladanda canal starting from Jobra to Madhupatna were issued notices to vacate the place. About 3000 families with a population of over 10,000 are currently taking shelter in these slums. “They have been staying here for last 70 years. How can the municipality now think of evicting them without proper rehabilitation”? Mr. Singh asked. Mr. Singh, also the city CPI(M) president, alleged that the proposed eviction drive was aimed at facilitating the South Korean steel major Posco to use the canal water for its proposed mega steel plant in Paradeep. It may be recalled here that the State Government has taken a loan of Rs 100 crores from the World Bank to renovate the century-old canal, which is now in a dilapidated condition.

Mr. Singh further alleged that while the State Government has announced an ambitious rehabilitation package for the evacuees, no such scheme is in operation for Cuttack city. The CPI(M) leader also demanded that all those families who are staying in different slums of the city for last three generation should be given record of rights (RoR) of the lands on which they stay.

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