THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: It is not the first time that the City Corporation has had bad luck with its slum development projects. The maiden venture at Rajaji Nagar (Chenkalchoola colony) was too murkier for a beginning, yet the Corporation learned no lessons out of it.The reason why there are more than 40 houses in Rajaji Nagar still illegally occupied by miscreants while the real beneficiaries remain homeless. It would not come as a surprise, if Karimadom colony copies Chenkalchoola in the coming days.It was during the term of the last Council that the Corporation, fed up with the allegations hurled against the beneficiary list and the subsequent occupation of flats in the Chenkalchoola colony, decided to go for a survey of the occupants there. Amidst stiff resistance from the part of the residents, the survey was carried out by the then Welfare Standing Committee led by Rajendradas, which found that nearly 40 houses were illegally occupied.However, after the big din that followed and which died down soon, the Corporation conveniently forgot the colony, probably fearing a law and order situation.According to Thampanoor’s UDF councillor Harikumar, many of the flats were occupied after breaking them open by the residents."Some of the flats were sold off the very next day, some were rented out. It was a classic example of the survival of the fittest. And nobody dared to question. Though the council had passed a resolution to scan the beneficiary list once more, it did not materialise,’’ Harikumar says.Recently, one of the beneficiaries approached the High Court, which has ordered the Corporation to come clear of the allegations and submit an affidavit. Following which, it has called for a meeting of the beneficiaries on Tuesday. However, according to Harikumar, most of the beneficiaries are yet to receive a notice of the meeting.In the case of Karimadom colony, once again it is the beneficiary list that has come under attack. The petitioners who have moved the High Court against the beneficiary list have said that the list was a pick of the lots. And that there have been no criteria in selecting them.However, Corporation officials said that it was the Welfare Standing Committee and the Urban Poverty Alleviation unit of the Corporation who jointly selected the beneficiaries. Welfare Standing Chairman Palayam Rajan said that all residents of the colony have made it to the list, while the petitioners allege that many have been neglected.The indications are that a Chenkalchoola might be repeated, and it is time the Corporation took a firm stand.
Comments
0 comment