Slum free Bihar in five years: Minister

Urban development minister Prem Kumar had claimed that the state would become 'slum free' in the next five years.

Urban development minister Prem Kumar had claimed that the state would become 'slum free' in the next five years.

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Talking to newsmen here on Saturday, Kumar said Bihar had recently become the first state in the country to pass a 'slum policy' through cabinet. It was framed on the basis of an extensive survey and envisages freeing the state from the problem of slums by providing proper civic amenities in the next five years.

The minister also informed that the Nitish government was also preparing master plans for the proper development of the civic amenities in the cities keeping in view the future increase in population.

"The master plans for nine cities, including Patna, Muzaffarpur, Gaya, Bhagalpur, Dharbanga and Ara, have already been prepared and that plans of 26 more cities will also be completed within next one month," Kumar said.

To a query, Kumar said to prevent the flow of polluted fluids and other wastes into the Ganga, sewage treatment plants would be set up in four cities -Buxar, Hajipur, Munger and Begusarai- through which the holy river crosses the state.