Slum dwellers at Collectorate Ghat in Patna. Picture by Nagendra Kumar Singh

Patna, March 15: Even as exercise is underway to give final shape to the Patna Municipal Corporation (PMC) budget, the civic body is abuzz with news that the sum earmarked for the welfare of the slums in the corporation area could not be spent this year too, like the past several years.

Suneel Kumar, ward corporator from ward number 3, alleged that not a single penny from the Rs 2.36-crore fund meant for civic issues in the slum areas has been spent. “This amount was approved in last year’s budget for sanitation, water supply and sewage works in slum areas. All this has happened because of lack of initiatives by the administrative heads,” he said.

According to a recent Carbon Disposal Project (CDP) report, an estimated 55 per cent of the population of Patna resides in slums and urban villages.

“The urban development department’s plan is to improve the quality of housing and services in slums and squatters so that by 2021, the population living in unhygienic condition comes down to 40 per cent. To achieve that target the implementation of plans through the municipal corporation is crucial. It is unfortunate if they have failed to do it,” said a senior official in the urban development department.

He added that more detailed studies and analysis are required to prepare a sound plan to improve urban poor condition.

“The CDP also estimates that the BPL population is about 2.86 lakh in Patna Urban Area (PUA) and 2.5 lakh in PMC area. The city administration has envisaged the schemes for improvement of situation in slum areas either through in-situ upgrade or by relocation. Six night shelters have also been included in the investment plan for street dwellers at a cost of Rs 15 crore. The direct identifiable investment proposed in the CDP for these improvements is Rs 200 crore which will happen over next few years,” the official added.

Many slum dwellers, meanwhile, said that these areas are not in liveable condition.

“Had it not been for the occasional help and services offered by few NGOs, the area would have been a reeking hell. The corporation does not take care of our power, water or sanitation needs. Even the toilets in the area have been constructed by an NGO. We have not seen any initiative being taken by the PMC or the urban development department,” said Manoj Paswan, a rickshawpuller who lives in the slums at Adalatganj.

Slum dwellers complain mostly there is just one tap in the entire locality of about 300-400 families, a few toilets and no power connection.

“We become an easy target as voters for political leaders who promise us moon before the elections but once the polls are over, no one comes to see how we are living in such inhumane condition. At least potable water and a proper drainage system should be ensured in these areas but even these seem to be a luxury given the circumstances. If the corporation cannot spend the scanty funds earmarked for us, what else can we expect the government to do?” asked Birju Kumar, a slum dweller near collectorate, north Gandhi Maidan.

State urban development and housing minister Prem Kumar acknowledged the problems related to the pathetic living conditions in slum areas of the capital in an event a few days back.

“The growing shortage of urban land and housing has aggravated the problem of slums in Patna recently. We are keen to providing land in the outskirt to the homeless people but our emphasis is also to ensure that the areas where poor people are living now get basic civic amenities,” he had said.