Accountability in relocation

Thursday, 31 January 2013 00:00 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Beautifying Colombo is clearly a project close to the heart of the Government, but the all-important facet of accountability is largely missing from these plans. Within the next few months, hundreds of families in the city will be cleared out of their homes, most of who are financially vulnerable, making the need for transparent measures even more important.

During the last few days, media attention was drawn to steps taken by the Urban Development Authority (UDA) to clear Bastian Street. An estimated 500 families in Slave Island were also removed earlier. Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa who met these people had insisted that documents that would enable them to obtain rent be handed over to the UDA within two weeks. Yet there were disgruntled complaints from residents that the rent offered was insufficient and compensation given inadequate.

With the Army and Police heavily involved in the clearance of buildings and the UDA wrapped under strong bureaucracy, the interests of these poor families are in danger of not being clearly heard. There is even a miasma of fear with families not knowing how to get a fair hearing or complain of delays and oversights. The highly-politicised nature of compensation and allocation of new houses also leaves people vulnerable.

Cabinet had last year approved a proposal to give about eight acres of land around Slave Island bordering Malay Street, Justice Akbar Street, and a railway track to TATA Housing and its partner SG 18 Advisors and Consultants Ltd. TATA is entrusted to build 456 decent housing units with all facilities for the current residents in alternative lands in the same area within two years. Thus attention also needs to be paid to the standards of the buildings that will be given to the relocated families.

In October Cabinet gave approval for 35 acres of land in the capital city to be taken over to provide low cost housing for 65,000 families. The 35 acres was vested with the Urban Development Authority (UDA), which is under the Defence Ministry headed by President Mahinda Rajapaksa, in what will be the biggest relocation program in the country’s history.

The land is located in 15 different areas of the city. The Government says it has commenced 11 projects to construct 9,781 houses for low income families to date. UDA data shows that of the 700,000 estimated residents in Colombo, 43 per cent live in around 6,000 slums scattered across the city. These colonies occupy some of the most valuable public land, which the Government hopes to hand over to private companies once the relocation is complete.

Earlier in 2012, the World Bank approved a loan of US$ 213 million dollars to upgrade infrastructure and reduce flooding in parts of the metro area in what is the first urban development funding assistance of its kind anywhere in the world. For the first time in history, there are more people living in cities and Sri Lanka is not far behind in this trend. Therefore, improving infrastructure is essential for the wellbeing of urban populations and the Government’s intentions are positive, but they must be enshrined in processes that promote transparency, good governance, and accountability for inclusive development.

It is essential that the poor do not become the victims of this beauty.