Panel set up to make Capital slum-free

The Ministry of Housing and Urban Poverty Alleviation has constituted a high-level committee to prepare a blue print to make Delhi "slum-free". This was decided in a meeting between Union housing and poverty alleviation minister Kumari Selja and Delhi chief minister Sheila Dikshit on Monday. HT reports.

The Ministry of Housing and Urban Poverty Alleviation has constituted a high-level committee to prepare a blue print to make Delhi "slum-free". This was decided in a meeting between Union housing and poverty alleviation minister Kumari Selja and Delhi chief minister Sheila Dikshit on Monday.

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"The committee will have officials drawn from all concerned departments and chaired by secretaries of the ministries of Urban Development and Housing and Urban Poverty Alleviation to chalk out a time-bound action plan and suggest necessary reform measures to be taken for inclusive urban planning," said a senior HUPA official.

The committee has also been mandated to suggest coordination mechanisms for ensuring timely implementation in view of the multiplicity of agencies in Delhi. "Selja and Dikshit will review the progress on a periodic basis to ensure effective implementation," he added.

Other major issues discussed in the meeting included the requirement of giving legislative backing to the reform of earmarking funds into a non-lapsable basic services for urban poor fund and effective implementation of the pro-poor provisions of the Delhi Master Plan with respect to reservation of 15% of the FAR or 35% of the dwelling units for EWS/LIG in all group housing projects.