Faridabad's slum concern is second only to Mumbai

Times of India

Faridabad seems to be catching up fast with Mumbai when it comes to sprawling slums. With 46% of its population living in slum areas, it's only second to Mumbai which has 54% people residing in slums.

This was stated by P K Mohanty, joint secretary and mission director of JNNURM, on Wednesday at the national conference on JNNURM and Urban Mobility India in the Capital. So far, Faridabad ranks second among the 35 million-plus cities as far as the slum population is concerned. Moreover, majority of the NCR cities of Haryana including Rewari, Rohtak, Hisar, Sonepat, Panipat, Karnal and Bhiwani have over 30% of their population residing in slums, according to the 2001 Census report.

Planners say that Faridabad has achieved this notorious distinction due to rapid industrial development witnessed in the late 1970s and unplanned development. Also, they say the city managers have failed to create affordable housing for industrial workers. "Because of industrial development, work force from all over north India came here in search of jobs due to which the slums expanded,'' says Faridabad municipal commissioner R K Khullar. He added that the city was known as the New Industrial Township (NIT).

Those who have lived here for over half a century recollect how the sleepy urban centre became the hub of industrial development in north India with several reputed industries starting their operations in early 1980s. "By 1987, it was at the peak with over 15,000 industries operating from here. The unorganized work force poured in, however, enough housing was not available to accommodate them. Hence, these migrants started living wherever they found space. These areas converted into slum clusters,'' says Ramni Prabhakar, general secretary of Manufacturers Association of Faridabad.

The unplanned growth and sprawling slum areas covered a major portion of Faridabad and colonies such as AC Nagar, Sanjay Colony, Mujeswar and Azad Nagar dotted the city. "Faridabad is the Dharavi of north India, the largest slummed city,'' Prabhakar says.

For the big industrialists and well-off residents of Faridabad, these slum clusters have spoilt its beauty. And, the unplanned infrastructure has made the city unlivable. Khullar says they have been taking enough steps to take development to each and everyone. "We have been successful in providing water supply to most slum-dwellers. We are also constructing 4,000 flats for the poor,'' he adds.