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Singapore to fund slum rehabilitation scheme in metros, says Jethmalani

The Singapore government will finance the development of two million houses in the slums of Bombay, Delhi Calcutta and other cities in the country, Union Urban Development Minister Ram Jethmalani has said.

Jethmalani told UNI in Bombay that funds from the private sector and various internationals agencies would be encouraged for setting up the infrastructure for water supply and drainage system for slums in the affected cities.

He said the abolition of the Urban Land Ceiling Act would make more land available for construction purposes in the cities. This, in turn, would bring real estate prices in the metros within the easy reach of the common man, he added. The reduction in housing prices would also eliminate the black money factor involved in property transactions in the major metros of the country, he pointed out.

Bemoaning bureaucratic corruption, the minister observed that while, due to red-tapism, it takes almost seven to eight years to obtain sanctions and clearing plans for legitimate construction work, one can build a house in a Bombay slum in as little time as three days.

''In a slum, no plans are to be passed, no permission required, no objections raised and no taxes to be paid. Hence people prefer to go in for these cheap unlawful houses rather than lawfully constructed houses which are comparatively very expensive'', he added.

This in turn burdens the urban infrastructure like water supply, drainage, access roads, fire safety and other amenities, the minister observed.

About the Babri Masjid demolition case, he said he was not aware who would now defend Shiv Sena chief Bal Thackeray, L K Advani and others whom he was defending until he was sworn in as a minister. ''Probably they will find someone on their own for the case in future'', he said.

UNI

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