July 15, 2019
Thika tenants in slums can now have their own homes
The Bangla Government is going to make new legislation for slum-dwellers – those living in vacant government plots can now have their own dwellings in the same places.
While tabling the West Bengal Thika Tenancy (Acquisition and Regulation) (Amendment) Bill, 2019, in the Assembly on Monday, July 8, the Urban Development and Municipal Affairs Minister said the government has instructed the block land revenue officers (BLRO) to see to it that in places where slums have come up, and the government land that has been lying unutilised, the plots are leased out and dwellings constructed under either of the two schemes – Nijo Bhumi Nijo Griho or Banglar Bari.
Over the years, most of the thika properties have either become dilapidated for various reasons or have gone under litigation, leaving no scope for their development and reconstruction for improving the living conditions of the people, their safety and security.
The amendment to the Bill empowers the tenant to build his own house by taking bank loans (Nijo Bhumi Nijo Griho ) or get a built house through the Banglar Bari Scheme.
The minister added that the dream of slum-dwellers to live in flats can be fulfilled and in this context, the Bill can be regarded as historic. Sanction would also be given for G+4 buildings.
The Kolkata Municipal Corporation has conducted a survey with the thika controller and enlisted the amount of land under thika tenancy, he told the Assembly.
Source: Millennium Post
