Corporation chooses Mathipuram for RAY

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: After much delay, the City Corporation has taken its first step in the direction of implementing the massive slum renovation project - Rajiv Awaz Yojana (RAY) in the Corporation limit. It has chosen Mathipuram colony in Harbour ward for the pilot project where the first round of cluster meetings have been done with and the numbering of houses in the colony (which are mostly huts) is in progress.While its counterparts in Kollam have already submitted the Detailed Project Report (DPR) for RAY, the Thiruvananthapuram Corporation would be ready with the DPR by October only.Kochi and Kozhikode Corporations have also gone farther with the project, but Thrissur and Thiruvananthapuram have been lagging far behind in kick-starting the procedures. The Kudumbashree is the nodal agency of the project in the state."We have chosen Mathipuram and Puthenpally in Poonkulam ward for the project. However, the pilot is being prepared for Mathipuram, which is actually a mix of three major slums,’’ said Palayam Rajan, Welfare Standing Committee Chairperson.The Mathipuram colony has nearly 1,200 families living in 700 houses. "They belong to fishermen community and are the poorest of the poor lot. At the cluster meeting, we had made clear what the project was and how their cooperation would be important for the project. To avoid any complications, I have suggested that small number of houses, say 15, be demolished first for the renovation. When large eviction is made and if the project gets delayed, then the people would suffer,’’ said Sudheer Khan, Harbour ward councillor.The RAY, just like BSUP, is a wholesome slum renovation plan which aims to create more than just housing spaces but looks at the development of the colony residents too. So, in the same model envisaged for Karimadom colony, the project would enclose a small market, children’s park, skill training centre, water supply project and so on.According to Sudheer, the project would see fund-spending on three different phases which would include those people with no land, people with land and who require a better house and those people who have houses but need maintenance. "We have talked with the people there, they are willing. The meetings are being held for the initial proceedings. The DPR could be submitted by October,’’ said Mayor K Chandrika.The BSUP (Basic Service to Urban Poor) scheme for slum renovation is set to wind up in 2012. RAY would take over from where BSUP ends, Corporation officials said.