Housing policy for slum-dwellers

BANGALORE: The state Cabinet on Friday cleared a policy seeking to give ownership titles to slum-dwellers, remove hurdles in constructing dwelling units and provide minimum infrastructure in such areas.The total slum population in Karnataka is about 40 lakh, living in 2,722 slums in government and private land. This includes the 597 slums in Bangalore, with a population of 15 lakh.The aim of the policy is to make the state slum-free and the government would strive to achieve the goal in five to eight years, Minister for Law and Parliamentary Affairs S Sureshkumar said. The policy envisages providing quality dwelling units and minimum infrastructure such as electricity, drainage, drinking water and roads.The government will amend the Karnataka Town and Country Planning Act during the next budget to clear legal hurdles in giving land rights to the slum-dwellers, the minister said. The policy proposes stringent action against those who create new slums.The first Legislative session of the year will start from January 30. The state Cabinet which met here on Friday decided to convene the session for ten days from January 30.