Ministry to announce National Slum Policy

By Our Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI, OCT. 18. The Union Minister for Urban Development, Mr. Ananth Kumar, today said that the Government would shortly announce a National Slum Policy.

Speaking at the Economic Editors Conference, he said that the draft policy was almost ready and it would be put on the Ministry's website to enable the people to have a look at it. Suggestions and objections would be invited and these would be taken into account before finalising the policy.

He admitted that though the concept of local governance has been implemented by enacting relevant legislations, the devolution of fiscal and administrative powers was still to take place. One development was that the State Finance Commissions have given good recommendations which would facilitate gradual devolution of fiscal powers.

Admitting that there was a wide gap between the requirement and availability of basic services provided by the local Government in urban areas, he said the Government was considering various steps to enable the municipalities to have access capital. A proposal to set up a `bond bank' and another to create a `challenge fund' were actively being considered by the Government. Access to these funds would depend on the ability of the local bodies to usher in a fair amount of internal reforms.

With a view to boost development of urban infrastructure in the country, the Government has already permitted 100 foreign direct investment (FDI) for development of an entirely new township in the country. This would facilitate emergence of new townships for definite purposes. The guidelines for FDI in urban infrastructure sector would be announced shortly.

The new scheme envisaging subsidies for housing for weaker sections would go a long way in helping the deprived sections in the urban areas to acquire pucca shelters. Wherever land on which the weaker sections existed was not needed, they should be resettled there as they acted as service providers for others living in the area. By commercially exploiting a portion of the land occupied by them, it should not be difficult to settle them there, he said.

Answering a question, Mr. Kumar said that the Government would not only review the function of the Delhi Development Authority but go in for systemic changes and restructuring of the organisation.

Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Section  : National
Previous : India, Russia hold talks on Afghanistan
Next     : Clarification