New Delhi: A government survey has found
that about 49,000 slums existed in urban areas of the country
till July last year, with the highest number of them being in
Maharashtra followed by Andhra Pradesh and West Bengal.
Of the 49,000 slums, about 35 per cent existed in
Maharashtra, 11 per cent in Andhra Pradesh and 10 per cent in
West Bengal, according to National Sample Survey Office
report, likely to be released tomorrow.
The report said that 24 per cent of slums were located
along drains while 12 per cent were along railway lines.
About 48 per cent of the slums were "usually" affected
by waterlogging during monsoon.
Though the percentage of underground sewerage had
increased compared to the figures in 2002, it was found to be
existing in about 33 per cent of notified slums and 19 per
cent of non-notified slums.
While there was considerable improvement in drainage
facility, about 10 per cent notified and 23 per cent
non-notified slums still did not have it in the surveyed area.
"The corresponding proportions in 2002 had been 15 per cent
for notified and 44 per cent for non-notified slums," the
report said.
Non-notified slums were compact urban areas with a
collection of poorly built tenements, mostly of temporary
nature, crowded together "usually" with inadequate sanitary
and drinking water facilities in unhygienic condition.
The report said that the sanitary conditions in the
slums in terms of latrine facility during 2008-09 showed
considerable improvement since 2002.
"Latrines with septic tanks or similar facility were
available in 68 per cent notified and 47 per cent non-notified
slums which were 66 per cent and 35 per cent respectively in
2002," it said.
"At the other extreme, 10 per cent notified and 20 per
cent non-notified slums, down from 17 per cent and 51 per cent
respectively in 2002, did not have any latrine facility," it
added.
The report said in 64 per cent of notified slums, a
majority of dwellings were `pucca` while the corresponding
percentage for the non-notified ones was 50 per cent.
Over the last five years, facilities in terms of roads
and water supply had improved in about 50 per cent of the
notified slums.
"For 95 per cent slums, the major source of drinking
water was either tap or tubewell," it said.
The survey covered the whole of India except Ladakh and
Kargil districts of Jammu and Kashmir, interior villages of
Nagaland situated beyond the five kilometres of bus route and
villages in Andaman and Nicobar island.
PTI
