The Rangamatia Cluster Development Project has finally begun with infrastructure development in the area.
The project proposed to be undertaken under the Centrally funded Rajiv Awas Yojana (RAY) in 2012 involves construction of housing units and infrastructure development of the area. BMC has identified about seven acre land for the project.But, the objection of the existing slum dwellers of Rangamatia has hit the project as it proposed relocation of three other slums through a housing project.
As per original proposal, residents of three other slums were supposed to be rehabilitated to Rangamatia slum through a major housing project under RAY. The decision on housing project has not been finalised yet. “Since Rangamatia slum dwellers did not have any problem with infrastructure development, we have begun with the water supply work in the area,” said a senior BMC official. The Odisha Public Health and Engineering Organisation (PHEO) has been assigned the charge of water supply in the area. The water supply to the slum will cost Rs 1.16 crore. A tender for providing adequate electricity supply has also been floated by the BMC.
After housing project was stalled due to repeated protests by slum dwellers, BMC approached the General Administration (GA) department to provide alternate land. The General Administration department has recently issued alternate land about 1.5 km from Rangamatia in Gadakana Mouza. The number of housing units to be constructed is yet to be finalised.