UDD minister Prem Kumar at the policy launch in Patna. Picture by Nagendra Kumar Singh

Patna, Dec. 21: The state urban development department today launched the Bihar State Slum Policy-2011 with the objective of providing basic civic amenities in tenable slums.

The amenities would include proper roads, community water supply, sewage clean-up, toilets, street lighting, storm water drainage, collection and disposal of solid waste among others in tenable slums.

Delighted with the launch of the policy, Manju Kumari, a slum dweller from Jhapra Tola in Saharsa, said: “I believe this policy would bring proper toilets, drainage network, handpumps, drinking water and all other basic facilities which are not in my slum at present. I would expect that the government would implement the policy at the earliest.”

Apart from the slum policy, the urban development department also launched development plans for 28 cities. The plans envisage holistic development of the 28 cities during 2010-2030.

Speaking on the occasion, state urban development department minister Prem Kumar said: “Bihar is probably the first state in the country, which has its official slum policy that defines future strategies for slum improvement and poverty alleviation. The policy has been developed with regional consultation from stakeholders like elected representatives, officials of urban local bodies and community groups in the slums.”

He added: “In the first stage of implementation of the policy, we would issue tenders for development of total 56 slums in 28 cities in January next year.”