By Pervez Bari, TwoCircles.net
Bhopal: With the Vidhan Sabha elections due in November-December this year the Bharatiya Janata Party ruled Madhya Pradesh Government has played a master stroke to attract urban poor voters to help it retain power in the state.
As such the Madhya Pradesh state cabinet at its meeting chaired by the Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan here today decided to confer residential pattas on all the houseless families in urban areas living in Jhuggi-Jhopadis (slums) on the lands of Government Nuzul or urban bodies or development authorities as on December 31, 2007. Terms and conditions for eligibility of the families for the pattas have been laid down.
Accordingly, if it is felt necessary to relocate any jhuggi basti in larger public interest, these families would be granted temporary authority letters and action would be taken to resettle them elsewhere. The settlement of land in actual use of the landless person or allotment of any other land, not measuring more than 450 feet, may be done in his favour. But in case the land measures more than this there would be a ceiling of 800 square feet in nagar panchayat area, 600 square feet in municipality area and 450 square feet in municipal corporation area for settlement of the land. Such additional land would be vacated and allotted to other eligible persons or may be used for other purposes by the urban bodies.
It was also decided that the decision for relocation of jhuggi bastis in larger public interest and in view of future requirements would be taken by committees to be constituted in the capital city, divisional headquarter cities and district headquarter cities and other cities. In larger public interest if the government feels it necessary at any point of time that the land of a jhuggi basti for which pattas have been provided is required for some public purpose, then the pattas may be cancelled and the land withdrawn and action would be taken for rehabilitation of the concerning patta-holders at some other suitable place. If a jhuggi dweller is living as a tenant, he would be entitled to a patta, however the patta would not be given to the owner of the jhuggi. If the former patta-holder applies for a patta again or gives wrong information, it would be a punishable act.The pattas of residential lands would be given in joint names of husband and wife.
For implementation of this scheme a survey would be conducted on the houseless families living in urban jhuggi-jhopadis of the state. There is a target to complete the survey by June 15, 2008. Subsequently, the works related to allotment of pattas and settlement of jhuggis would be completed. A biometric survey would also be conducted on the houseless families found eligible during the survey. A high level committee headed by the Chief Secretary would be authorized to take decisions for its completion within the scheduled period. ([email protected])