Condemning the decision of the Revenue Department to resume land acquisition for the development of National Highway-17, a large number of people under the aegis of a local action council took out a march to the office of the tahsildar (land acquisition) at Vadakara on Wednesday.

The protesters, who boycotted the land document verification process by the department, said they would not cooperate with any acquisition activities until the government fulfilled the promises given to them on a proper rehabilitation package.

Gandhinagar: Gujarat government is ready with its housing policy for urban areas. The policy is expected to be unveiled within a month. Sources say that the government will be announcing two sub-policies on slum rehabilitation and affordable housing in the cities simultaneously.

The government plans to build 22 lakh houses in the urban areas over the next five years out of which seven lakh are meant for rehabilitation of slum dwellers. The government has already got a survey of slums done in various cities.

In a push to the contentious Land Acquisition and Rehabilitation and Resettlement Bill before the all-party meeting on April 18, the Centre is reaching out to various political parties in an attemp

Rs 280-Cr Plan Focuses On Rehabilitation Of Sahyadri Villages

Kolhapur: The state forest department has submitted the first detailed conservation plan for Sahyadri Tiger Reserve (STR) to the Union ministry of environment and forest. The Rs 280-crore plan focuses on the rehabilitation of villages on the fringe of the reserve and 90% of the proposed funds have been earmarked for it. Sources said the ministry would study the plan and pass it on to the National Tiger Conservation Authority for the final approval.

The work of the Rs.200 crore worth projects funded by the National Bank for Rural Development (NABARD) aimed at infrastructure development in the endosuflan-affected localities in the district will be inaugurated at Bovikkanam near here on April 5.

The function would be inaugurated by Social Welfare Minister M.K. Muneer and Agriculture Minister K. P. Mohanan, P. Karunakaran, MP, said at a prèss conference here on Tuesday.

In line with its policy to encourage low-cost housing projects, the government is considering allowing foreign direct investment (FDI) in such projects, subject to a host of conditions, including a

Despite Union Minister of Housing & Urban Poverty Alleviation Ajay Maken’s plea to the Maharashtra Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan for stopping the demolition of the houses of slum-dwellers, 43 houses were pulled down at the Golibar slum here on Wednesday, under the supervision of the Collector’s office.

The activists of the National Alliance of People’s Movement (NAPM) have alleged that Shivalik Ventures, which develops the prime property of 125 acres called Golibar, carried out the demolition in connivance with government officials.

Jaipur: The state government has decided to constitute a ‘rehabilitation cell’ for smooth rehabilitation of people living in slums and kacchi basti. The cell will perform under Jaipur Development Authority (JDA) with a separate staff and is expected to start functioning from June.

Marred by staff shortage and pressure from several quarters to clear encroachments from government land, the government granted permission to set up a different body and approved the permission for the creation of 12 posts for the cell. The consent came after JDA requested the state government to give extra manpower for carrying the tasks of relocation.