Ranchi, Oct. 19: Parks, parking lots, residential and commercial complexes could soon adorn those plots in the city, which are currently occupied by slums, if Ranchi Regional Development Authority (RRDA)?s plans are realised.

According to the urban development authority, the slums on government land would be removed and slum-dwellers would be rehabilitated in quarters that would be constructed by the RRDA.

The development authority?s town planner, Durganand Minz, pointed out there are many plots of government land in various parts of the state capital, which have been occupied by slum-dwellers.

?We plan to identify these plots of land and provide living quarters to slum-dwellers in one part of this land itself. The rest of the land would be used for the construction of parks, commercial complexes and other such projects,? he informed.

The RRDA first plans to conduct a survey of the existing slum pockets in the city to look into the possibility and feasibility of the project. The Ranchi Municipal Corporation (RMC) is also going to help the development authority with the study and also help in chalking out the guidelines to go about the project.

?The government of India runs a programme called the Slum Rehabilitation Programme, which stipulates that such living quarters must be 225 square feet and they should at least have a kitchen, veranda and two bedrooms,? said Minz.

Elaborating on the proposed residences for slum dwellers, he added, ?We are also thinking of constructing quarters on these lines. These residences can also be given to maids and helpers who would work in the apartments that would be constructed on the adjacent plots.?

According to the survey conducted by the civic body, RRDA officials informed, there are about 19 slum pockets in the city and Minz added that he has requested RMC to give him a list of all these areas.

The areas beside Main Road where slum-dwellers have currently settled are Kadru, parts of Hindipiri and certain areas of Kantatoli.

?Most of the land, occupied by slum-dwellers, is government-owned. Through this (project), two purposes would be served ? slum dwellers would no longer live in a haphazard manner and occupy entire stretches of land, and a huge section of the same land could be used for other purposes,? added Minz.

Explaining about the project, he said: ?After a feasibility study, we would have to cross subsidise. Under this aspect, we will ascertain what part of land would be used for rehabilitating slum-dwellers and what part would be used for other purposes.?

The official pointed out that the maximum portion of recovered land would be used for constructing parks in order to increase the green cover in the city. Others, he added, would be used for the construction of residential and commercial complexes.

RRDA also has plans toutilise the land for the construction of parking lots if the particular stretch is beside Main Road or other such important roads.

?With the lack of parking lots, which, in turn, leads to congestion on the roads, we are also exploring the possibility of utilising these plots for the construction of parking lots especially if the land is near any thoroughfare,? Minz noted, adding that if the land is big enough it can accommodate multiple developments also.

The RRDA also plans to invite proposals from potential builders and developers for the construction of parks on these plots.