The State Government will attempt to provide the documents of land ownership rights to some of the persons living in slum settlements in Dehradun on November 9—the state’s foundation day. A corpus fund of Rs 400 crore will be set up to develop the slum settlements into modern settlements with various facilities, said chief minister Harish Rawat after unveiling a statue of the late prime minister Indira Gandhi on her death anniversary in Dehradun on Monday. Referring to her as the all-time best prime minister in the world, Rawat said that Indira Gandhi still “remains in the hearts of the poor of the world”. The CM also unveiled the foundation for the Indira market redevelopment project of the Mussoorie Dehradun Development Authority (MDDA) apart from unveiling a Dandi march mural at Survey Chowk . The CM said that foundation laying for the Indira market redevelopment project is a big step towards developing a smart and modern Dehradun.
Speaking on the occasion, the CM opined that the MDDA is now undertaking developmental works with its housing project proving to be a competition of sorts for private developers, with the benefit being provided to members of the lower and middle income groups. Rawat said, “The State Government will attempt to facilitate the handing over of ownership rights documents to some of the people residing in slum settlements on November 9. A Rs 400 crore corpus fund will be created to develop the slums into localities with modern facilities,” he said. The CM also said that overhead power lines will be made underground along the major and more used roads of the city apart from which alternative transport will also be prepared. Stating that international-level sports facilities are coming up in Raipur, Dehradun, he also averred that 35,000 homes will be constructed under the Uttarakhand Jan Awas Yojana with work already having been started on the same.The CM also directed the MDDA to develop one circle in the city as dedicated to the Uttarakhand Statehood movement. The sculptor of the former PM’s statue – Deviram from Dharchula was also felicitated by Rawat on the occasion.
Speaking on the occasion, cabinet minister Dinesh Aggarwal stressed on the need for assembling systematised facilities in Dehradun. The effect of work done in the past couple of years and the various plans drafted will become evident in the coming days, he said. Rajpur Road MlA and parliamentary secretary Rajkumar termed the regularization of slum settlements a “historic” step adding that facilities are being developed gradually in Dehradun.
Informing about the Indira market redevelopment project, the MDDA vice chairman R Meenakshi Sundaram said that it is being undertaken in a public-private partnership mode with an estimated cost of about Rs 106 crore will earn the authority a net income of Rs 32 crore. About 560 shopkeepers affected by the project will be relocated according to the Nazul policy. Further, a multi-level parking with capacity for 1,000 four wheelers, green area and other facilities will also be part of the project.