Charitra Ram, a septuagenarian born and brought up in Ranchi, had been without a home of his own since the one he built on Government land in Madhukam was brought down during an anti-encroachment drive in 2011. On Tuesday, he was the first among the displaced to receive keys to a 2-BHK flat from Chief Minister Raghubar Das. 152 displaced families received ownerships of residential complex at Rugrigadha in Madhukam, constructed under Basic Services to Urban Poor (BSUP) to rehabilitate them, in a formal ceremony on Tuesday. Das also distributed 53 e-rickshaws under the Jharkhand Rickshawchalak Garima Yojna.
“The State Government is resolute in its promise to provide homes to everyone in Jharkhand. We are working to ensure housing to all by 2019 against the 2022 deadline stipulated by the Union Government for the same,” said the CM. Emphasising on the need for ensuring a sanitised living environment in the BSUP flats and elsewhere, Das asked the ward councillors to take active part in the initiative.
“Ward councillors should pay attention to hindrances coming up in realising the Individual Household latrine project under Swachchh Bharat Mission. They should convene meetings with the denizens of their respective wards to understand the problems and sort them out by coordinating with civic guardians. This will help in swift execution of the project,” he said.
Handing e-rickshaws to beneficiaries of Jharkhand Rickshawchalak Garima Yojna, the CM called for responsible use of the vehicles. “Convenience of public transport users should be considered but the e-rickshaw drivers should also show regard for traffic norms while picking fares,” Das said.
On the issue of water scarcity, he stated, “The problem of water scarcity will grow to greater proportions in coming days on a global scale. But simply holding Government and urban local bodies responsible for solving the crisis will not help. All of us have to consider ways to conserve water.”
Urban Development Minister CP Singh, on this occasion, said that the time it took to handover the flats to beneficiaries was aptly invested in ensuring their unhindered access to basic amenities. “Merely giving away homes is not enough; adequate step has to be taken to extend facilities like water and electricity. Around 80 flats which await their owners will be handed over soon too,” he added.
Under the new Housing Policy, there are plans to rope in private developers on PPP mode to ensure residences to all, stated Das.
The encroached Government lands will be given to these developers to create free housing on one half for those evicted from the plot whereas the rest can be developed as housing societies for profit.
“Housing projects on similar lines will be soon kicked off in slums of Valmiki Nagar and Tulsi Nagar,” Singh said. “Each and every one of the displaced will be rehabilitated without exceptions. Ranchi Municipal Corporation should ensure that houses are given to deserving beneficiaries,” he said.
The Jharkhand Government has decided to extend water supply to every household through pipelines by 2017, said the Urban Development Minister.