In an attempt to ensure better planning in slums,a corporator is now roping in an architect to design the infrastructure of his ward specific to the local requirement. The civic body,which has provided for additional Rs 100 crore for slum projects this budget,has asked ward offices to appoint consultants to plan out such projects. Each corporator in wards largely dominated by slums has received Rs 15 lakh to Rs 1 crore for improvement of slum infrastructure. Rais Shaikh,Samajwadi Party corporator from ward 132 in Chembur (east) is in the process of appointing an architect for basic civic infrastructure,including drainage,water supply,sanitation,roads and open spaces. There are major lacunae in the existing infrastructure,especially in slums. For example,the civic administration has set up a drainage system,but there are missing links or broken drains that lead to water flowing back into the homes of slum dwellers, said Shaikh. There is an urgent need to streamline such infrastructure,otherwise the funds for setting up such a system will be a total waste, he added. Shaikh said the architect will study,analyse and design infrastructure required for the ward and plug the existing gaps. At present,the setting up of infrastructure such as drains,public toilets,construction and repair of roads is looked after by the local administrative ward office. BMC engineers work in isolation while setting up or repairing the civic infrastructure. In most cases,the set-up is not well-connected to reach the end-user, said Shaikh. The architect will also look at the need for green patches given the lack of open spaces, said Shaikh. sharvari.patwa@expressindia.com
