Sewerage Facilities in Slums in NCR, Delhi

New Delhi: Slums and urban development are State subjects. It is upto States/UTs to assess availability of sewerage and other facilities in slums. The Ministry of Housing & Urban Poverty Alleviation has not received any report indicating that 60 per cent of the slums in National Capital Region (NCR), Delhi do not have sewerage facilities. This was stated by Shri Ajay Maken, Union Minister of Housing & Urban Poverty Alleviation (HUPA), in the Rajya Sabha today, in a written reply to a question by Dr. Baishnab Parida. The Minister stated that in pursuance of the Government’s vision of creating a Slum-free India, Rajiv Awas Yojana (RAY) has been launched on 02.06.2011. Under RAY, Central Assistance will be extended to States/UTs that are willing to assign property rights to slum dwellers and undertake reservation of land/Floor Area Ratio (FAR)/dwelling units for Economically Weaker Sections (EWS)/Low Income Groups (LIG), earmark 25 per cent of municipal budget for basic services to the urban poor/slum-dwellers and bring in legislative amendments and policy changes to redress land and affordable housing shortages for the urban poor. Fifty per cent (50%) of the cost of provision of basic civic and social infrastructure and amenities and of housing, including rental housing and transit housing -for in-situ redevelopment in slums - would be borne by the Centre. The Minister further stated that the Phase I of RAY, which is for a period of two years from the date of approval of the scheme, i.e. till June 2013, is currently under implementation. This is the preparatory phase of RAY to undertake preparatory activities and pilot projects. Rs. 981.96 Lakh has been released to the Government of NCT of Delhi for undertaking preparatory activities under RAY to conduct slum survey, GIS mapping, preparation of Slum-Free City Plan and undertaking the preparation of pilot projects. So far, no pilot projects under RAY have been received from the Government of NCT of Delhi, the Minister added. (Source PIB)