Delay in decision-making at the state government level has denied thousands of poor and homeless families of their dream houses.
The Jaipur Municipal Corporation(JMC), having prepared a detailed project report (DPR) against Centre’s sanction of Rs 169 crore under the Jawahar Lal Nehru National Renewal Mission (JNNURM) and subsequent initial work orders for land levelling and road demarcation had to stop work in the absence of forest department clearance.
The Rs 450-crore project, JMC chief engineer D L Bhakhar said on Saturday, could have altered the life of thousands of people and helped raise additional resources for the fund-starved civic body.
Not only the project aims at providing housing to the Kachhi basti people (slum dwellers) but help JMC develop many commercial complex in 75 hectares, he claimed By default the forest department had shown this stretch in their map which has come in the way of the project, he added.
The Rs 169.43 crore sanctioned for the construction of four-storied residential complexes to rehabilitate the poor and homeless residing in 16 city slums have now been embroiled in an ownership wrangle with the forest department. The forest department issued notice to the JMC that the declared 75 hectares earmarked for the purpose falls in the area belonging to Nahargarh wildlife sanctuary, thus creating the biggest stumbling block .
Sources claim the onus of taking the project ahead lies with the state government. The civic body has spent Rs 2.8 crore on levelling the land, boundary wall and on road construction. The worried chief engineer wanted to create a model city for weaker sections and wanted to attract further investment from private developers, said Bhakhar. According to official sources now only the Rajasthan Wildlife Sanctuary Board chaired by the chief minister could take the final decision on the project. The state government according to a source, do not seem to be in hurry for early resolution of the issue. The project, initiated way back in 2006, has not been expedited, claimed a source.
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