Mah govt planning setting up task force to make state -slum free

Mumbai, July 13 (UNI) Admitting that implementation of laws to check proliferation of slums had failed, Maharashtra Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh today told the Legislative Assembly that his government was planning to set up a task force to prevent and evict encroachments of slums after the year 2000.

Replying to supplementaries during a calling attention notice asked by Chandrakant Chajed,Mr Deshmukh said a meeting of Mumbai MLAs would be convened soon to discuss stern steps to be taken to prevent slums from coming up in the city and non-protection to slums which are errected after the year 2000.

''The possibility of setting up a task force dedicated to the same purpose will be discussed,'' he informed.

Mr Deshmukh said the task force would function in all the 61 cities in Maharashtra including Mumbai.

He said slum dwellers who have encroached central government plots would not be given photo identity cards. Similarly, responding to questions, he said slum dwellers would be rehabilitated in the same place only if the land is not reserved for public utilities.

To the main question on rehabilitating project affected people in other cities on the lines of infrastructure projects like MUIP, MUTP in Mumbai, Mr Deshmukh said the project cost in case of Mumbai includes the rehabilitation of project affected and the state government is not burdened. ''This is not the case in other cities'', he said.

Referring to the regularisation of slums till the year 2000, Mr Deshmukh said the issue was sub-judice.''The government had made an affidavit in the court that the cut off date regarding regularisation of slums will not be extended after 1995. But, on humanitarian grounds, the government submitted a notice of motion in the high court to extend the cut off date''.

''As per the interim order of the High court,an 18 member committee headed by the Chief Secretary has been appointed to make suggestions regarding formulating a policy framework to rehabilitate slumdwellers. The committee will submit its report in the Court.Whatever decision is taken,it will be implemented in all the 61 cities and not just Mumbai'', he added.

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