In Vadodara, Slums Are Gone, But No New Homes for Displaced People

Around 800 families in Gujarat's Vadodara have been homeless for four months - ever since their houses were razed by the municipal corporation as part of a slum rehabilitation drive. The administration has failed to provide them with the promised new homes.

In Kamatipura, almost 400 houses were razed, in Kalyan Nagar, around 800. But alternate homes have been allotted only to 200 families - that too on the outskirts of the city. In other cases, alternate housing is ready - but people have not been able to shift.

The displaced people - who are mostly Muslims - are accusing the civic authorities of discrimination and politics.

They say the builders' lobby is involved too, since the value of real estate in the area could take a hit if a slum rehabilitation colony comes up in the area.

In October, the Gujarat high court had directed the administration to provide the people with the houses in Kalali rehabilitation colony, where over 1,040 houses are ready for possession. But no progress has been made.

In March, announcements were made twice about the draw of lots. But none have been held so far.

Mushtaq Sheikh, one of the people who lost his home and failed to get a house in Kalali, said they were "told" that the "locals were resisting the move as they did not want minority community residents to come in". The same thing happened in Sayajipura, where they were later promised a one-room unit. "Even local corporators were against US?'' said the man who now visits the spot in the erstwhile Kalyan Nagar slum where his house had stood for 30 years.

Corporation officials are silent on the issue. BJP leaders claim they are under pressure from locals.

"A number of new houses have been built... but the locals want the draw of lots to be stopped," said BJP legislator Manisha Vakil. "Our corporators led a delegation of local people to the civic body officials. We want the houses of displaced people to come up at the original sites."