Author: Statesman News Service
Publication: The Statesman
Date: January 9, 2008
Minorities in the state will have a fifty
per cent reservation in the 296 flats made by the Kolkata Metropolitan Development
Authority (KMDA), that are coming up in the Baishnabghata-Patuli area. The
state minister for urban development and municipal affairs Mr Ashok Bhattacharya
in this regard today made an announcement.
"The minority community consisting of
Muslims, Buddhists and Jains will have a fifty per cent reservation in the
various flats that will be built by the KMDA at the East Kolkata Township,"
Mr Bhattacharya said.
Elaborating on the reasons for this reservation,
the minister said that the decision was taken with a view of uplifting the
socio-economic conditions of the minorities and particularly their housing
problems.
Meanwhile, the KMDA today has decided to build
a total of 296 flats in the East Kolkata Township along the Eastern Metropolitan
Bypass. 112 of these 296 flats will be for the middle-income group (MIG),
while 184 would be in the lower income group (LIG) category.
All MIG flats will be of 650 sq feet and are
available at a cost in between Rs 6.5 lakhs and Rs 7.5 lakhs. Similarly, the
LIG flats will be built available at a cost varying between Rs 2.75 lakhs
and Rs 2.8 lakhs.
"All flats will be available at a subsidised
rate and we have fixed a stipulation that no one can transfer their flats
within the next 10 years," Mr Bhattacharya said adding that all flats
will be coming up within the next two years. KMDA will also build a community
hall and a children's park in the areas. Other than these flats, the KMDA
will also build 244 new flats for the LIG, while 82 plots will be distributed
amongst the MIGs. Both the plot distribution and development of flats in the
area will be done in the Bashnabghata-Patuli areas.
KMDA also announced that they would be distributing
150 plots in the same Baishnabghata-Patuli area. These plots will be distributed
to those who had to be re-located because of the various developmental works
carried out by the Kolkata Municipal Corporation and KMDA. Even those evicted
from the Tolly Nullah area will be given plots.
"Plots will be distributed through a
lottery and all applicants would have to provides certificates that they have
been evicted because of developmental work carried out by KMC and KMDA.
Moreover, they will also have to certify that
they do not own any house or property," the minister said.
