Slums outside the Biju Patnaik airport boundary wall. Picture by Ashwinee Pati

Bhubaneswar, June 28: The Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation remains concerned about the existence of more than seven slums close to the boundary of Biju Patnaik airport in terms of generating waste that can attract birds of prey.

Sources said the issue of relocating the slums was likely to come up for discussion with the airport reporting four bird-hit cases since August last year, the latest taking place a few days ago. Uncontrolled growth of slums, the aviation experts said, might result in creation of solid wastes and attract birds like kites.

The civic authorities, too, admit that it has become imperative to move slums out of the area, but they say there are constraints which would take time to resolve.

“Translocation of slums is only possible when the general administration department (GAD) takes interest. Moreover, transit houses or rented accommodations have to be arranged for economically weaker sections (EWS) staying in the slums,” said a senior corporation officer. While four of these slums known as, Kargil, Kela, Tarini and Talabania bastis, are at ward No. 30 in Phokhariput, others, including Ganganagar A and Ganganagar B and Farm Gate bastis, fall under ward No. 31 in the Orissa University of Agriculture Technology area. Another slum is under ward No. 29 or Gandamunda. The corporation officers have listed six slums around the airport zone, but the Talabania basti is yet to be included in the list.

Surprisingly, the GAD, which owns all government lands in the capital city, seems not much concerned about the bird-hit incidents during the past 11 months. “We will discuss the issue at the city management group (CMG) meeting,” said a senior officer. The group discusses issues regarding the development initiatives taken by different government agencies as it coordinates among the various departments. Airport director V.N. Chandran said: “The municipal corporation officers, while attending the airfield environment management committee meeting, have stated that work is underway to eradicate slums around the airport.”

Municipal commissioner Vishal Kumar Dev said: “To relocate the slum dwellers to the areas on the outskirts, the city needs at least 2,000 houses under the EWS category. There is a proposal to construct 5,000 houses under the EWS and the lower income group (LIG) categories. Out of the two categories, if 2,000 houses each could be constructed for houses under rent for the weaker sections, the slum problem in vital locations could be managed to some extent. The housing and urban development department has already started discussion in this regard and steps are likely to be taken very soon.”

“Before relocating the slum dwellers from any locality, we need to provide them either transit houses in sufficient numbers or small houses on rent. Therefore, the strategy on the alternate arrangement is important for the benefit of a better city and surrounding near the airport,” said slum improvement officer of the corporation Dillip Routrai.

Hruday Ballabh Samantray, councillor of ward No. 30, said the civic authorities had already asked for a list regarding the slums adjoining the airport boundary wall. Councillor of ward No. 29 Runu Jena said: “At Gandamunda slum in front of Netaji Subash Park, we have no problem with the solid waste disposal.”

Similarly, speaking on Ganganagar A and B and Farm Gate bastis, councillor of ward No. 31 Prashant Swain said the corporation authorities had not asked for any list of slums. “Perhaps these slums are not within the airport approach area,” he said. Apart from the slum development around the airport boundary wall, a corporation market near Gandamunda by the civic authorities has surprised the activists working for city development.