SURAT, May 19: Efforts are afoot to solve the housing problem of slum-dwellers and workers engaged in the diamond and textile industry in the city. Municipal Commissioner S Jagadeesan, who is also the chairman of the Surat Urban Development Authority (SUDA), is exploring various alternatives to provide housing facilities to workers and slum-dwellers.Jagadeesan convened a meeting on Saturday to discuss the problem with representatives of the diamond industry, who reiterated that they were willing to develop a township, provided SUDA allotted them land.The meeting arrived at a consensus that SUDA should acquire the land, provide infrastructure and then sell it at reasonable price to industrial association and housing committees formed by actual-users, Jagadeesan told Express Newsline.Though SUDA has vast land reserved for the housing sector, land prices are beyond the reach of the middle class, not to talk of theslum-dwellers, Jagadeesan said, pointing out that the civic body was working out ``suitable modalities'' to provide housing.The commissioner said a policy paper was being prepared on the problem, which would be tabled before the standing committee and the general board for approval. The paper will include details regarding acquiring the land under housing sector, allotting it to various parties and developing slums through NGOs, Jagadeesan said, adding the housing scheme is proposed to be self-financed.Meanwhile, for the first time in the history of the SMC, ownership rights have been given to slum-dwellers, who have been relocated.In Surat, where 40 per cent people live in slums, this decision is seen as a welcome. However, constructing houses for all will call for huge investment as according to an estimate, 85,000 dwelling units will have to be built if all slum-dwellers are to be provided housing facility.SUDA and the SMC will also ask corporate houses and private builders to come forward for help. However, the emphasis is on NGOs. If NGOs are willing to take up the responsibility, SUDA can provide land and the government financial assistance.While praising the decision of the corporation to give ownership rights to slum-dwellers, Navsarjan Director Fr Amalraj has suggested that the civic body should build huts for slum-dwellers before shifting them.He has also suggested that instead of relocating all slums, slums which are permanent in nature should be upgraded. This, he observed, will be less expensive and also will also solve the health and hygiene problem.Navsarjan, an NGO working among slums-dwellers, has offered to undertake institutional projects, provided the SMC provides financial assistance to build housing units for slum-dwellers.Fr Amalraj said he had written to the government asking that Navsarjan be given authority to build houses on the lines of the Slum Clearance Board and the Gujarat Housing Board. ``If we are given authority and financial assistance we are ready to construct dwelling units for slum-dwellers and the economically weak sections of the society, Amalraj said, adding corporate houses should contribute towards building units for slum-dwellers as such projects require huge investment, which only they can provide.
