Govt to provide land to urban slum dwellers

Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik briefing media on cabinet decision at secretariat in Bhubaneswar on Tuesday

Bhubaneswar: The state cabinet on Tuesday approved allotment of permanent land pattas to urban slum dwellers.
Terming it as a historic decision, the chief minister said while land rights will be granted to slum dwellers of municipal councils and NACs, property rights will be given to those residing in municipal corporation areas.
In his briefing, Naveen said, “The slum dwellers have day-to-day uncertainty about their home and fear of eviction coupled with harassment is always on their mind.”
The urban poor in slums will get land rights for residential use that are heritable, mortgage-able and non-transferable. In corporation areas, limited transferable rights will be given, he added.
“Those living in various slums under notified area council (NAC) will be provided 600 sqft of land. Similarly, slum dwellers residing under municipality area will be allotted 350 sqft land. The land will solely be utilized for construction of houses and can be mortgaged for loan during exigencies,” chief secretary Aditya Prasad Padhi informed after the meeting.
The meeting held at the secretariat here was attended by senior officials of different departments.