Says it was Matanhy Saldanha’s dream
TEAM HERALD
bureau@herald-goa.com
VASCO: Claiming that the development of the Zuari slum area was the dream of late Mathany Saldanha, Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar has promised a slew of goodies for slum dwellers at Zuarinagar.
The community has now been promised a widened road in the area, a 2-mtr-wide footpath and shops, besides a garden/park with toilet facilities and flats for residents in the slums.
Parrikar made the assurance when he along with Cortalim MLA and Forest and Environment Minister Alina Saldanha inspected the Zuarinagar market area on Saturday and assured residents of developing the market area by December.
After inspecting the market and the haphazard construction of shops within the setback area of the road, Parrikar told Herald that in the first phase of the Zuarinagar development, he would widen the road and construct a 2-metre-wide footpath and shops by December.
“After constructing the shops, it will be allotted to the shopkeeper and by paying a fixed amount, the shop will be transferred to the shopkeepers and they will become the owner of the shops,” said Parrikar.
“In the second phase, I will construct a garden/park with toilet facilities for the slum dwellers.”
“As far as the development of slums is concerned, it was the dream of late Matanhy Saldanha to provide better amenities and housing to the slum dwellers, which I will fulfil in the third phase,” the chief minister said.
Parrikar stated that he would construct three-storeyed buildings and would rehabilitate residents of the slums in the flats.
“The present generation of slum dwellers does not want to stay in unhygienic conditions. After the construction of the residential quarters, the residents of the slum will be allotted a flat each for a fixed amount, which would be payable within a set time frame. No one will be allowed to sell the flats during the first 15 years,” explained Parrikar.
“As far as payment of the flats is concerned, all residents of the slum area who have been staying for a longer period will be charged less and those who have started staying during the last five years will be charged more,” he said.
When asked if he would be in a position to differentiate the slum dwellers of Zuarinagar and other people in the area, Parrikar replied: “All those who had voted during the last assembly election will be entitled to rehabilitation. All slum dwellers will have to either provide a ration card, an EPIC card or any other government document as a proof that they are residing at the Zuarinagar slum at the time of the allotment of the flat.”
