CHATRI plea to HUDA on Master Plan-2020

By Our Special Correspondent

HYDERABAD, MAY 2. The Campaign for Housing and Tenurial Rights (CHATRI) has urged the Hyderabad Urban Development Authority (HUDA) to come out with details on whether it had taken into consideration the suggestions and objections submitted by various voluntary organisations on the Master Plan - 2020.

Addressing a press conference, the CHATRI convener, Bro. Varghese Theckanath and president, Dr. K. Balagopal, said they had also submitted some suggestions and objections when the HUDA invited opinions on its draft master plan 2020 in January. The plan was to have been finalised by April, but there was no word from the HUDA whether the suggestions and objections were being considered.

Elaborating on the objections and suggestions, Dr. Balagopal and Bro. Theckanath said the CHATRI suggested allotment of at least 30 per cent of the residential lands for the poor. The other suggestion was for allotment of 30 per cent of plots to service personnel like maid servants, attendants and drivers. Their argument was that whenever a residential colony was developed there would be necessity of these service personnel who invariably live in a nearby slum area. Providing some housing facility in a new residential colony would prevent formation of another slum near the newly developed colony.

The CHATRI's other suggestion was that all the lands released after repeal or modification of the ULC Act must be reserved for housing the poor. The existing residential areas along the Musi bank, about 20 colonies, were shown as Green Belt in the master plan. However, they should have been declared as residential areas and they needed to be improved. The race course at Malakpet should be shifted to the outskirts and the place converted into a park. The Nandanavanam project should also be shelved immediately.

Dr. Balagopal said the HUDA had recently announced that it would develop 14 sites in its limits for construction of residential areas on about 462 acres of land. However, they were not sure whether the suggestions put up by CHATRI as well as many voluntary organisations were being considered or not.

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