With alarming growth of slums all over Arunachal Pradesh, particularly in the capital complex, the State Government today passed a bill in the assembly to protect the rights of slum dwellers.

The Arunachal Pradesh Property Rights to Slum Dwellers Bill, 2012, moved by Urban Development Minister Rajesh Tacho yesterday, was passed by the assembly today by voice vote with NCP MLA Ralom Borang and Trinamool Congress member Laeta Umbrey vociferously opposing passing of the Bill hurriedly.

While Borang termed Arunachal as ‘a slum’, Umbrey supported him saying migrants will outnumber the locals if the Bill was passed. “We should be specific as to who would live in the slums and minimum and maximum area to be allotted.”

Tacho clarified that the Bill was in tune with the Union Housing and Poverty Alleviation ministry’s Rajiv Awas Yojna (RAY) aimed at making India slum-free.

“It will benefit the landless poor tribal people to get dwelling houses at affordable price,” he said.

Chief Minister Nabam Tuki said the Bill in public interest targets developing the urban cities and rural towns under the Jawaharlal Nehru Rural Urban Mission-2008.

“The Centre has identified million-plus urban cities in the country under the scheme and Itanagar is among one of them where municipality would be set up soon. The Bill is mandatory for holding election to the municipality,” he said.

Responding to the concern of the members, Tuki clarified that 108 locations, mainly colonies in the state capital and district headquarters, have been identified as slums to avail of the RAY scheme.

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