Odisha government’s bid to transform slums of Steel City

17 Nov 2022 CW Team

Notwithstanding claims of the state government, administrative efforts to make Rourkela Smart City free from slums remain partially successful. It is evident from the fact that a large population of slum- dwellers residing on land owned by Rourkela Steel Plant (RSP), South Eastern Railway (SER) and Forest department, has been left out of the slum transformation and de-notification initiative.

Under Jaga Mission, as many as 86 slums on government land have been taken up for transformation with basic amenities. The move aims at de-listing the slums and providing land rights to the residents.

On November 10, an aerial survey using drones was launched to pave the way for granting slum dwellers land rights. However, the initiative excludes 51 slums. Rourkela Municipal Corporation (RMC) has so far converted 77 of the 86 slums into model slums and renamed them Biju Adarsha Colonies. The slums have been redeveloped with basic amenities such as drains, roads, street lighting, tap water, community toilets, open space development, and beautification.

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