The state government today signed a MoU with TATA Trust for field implementation of the settlement of land rights in urban areas.

Speaking on the occasion Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik described it as historic and path-breaking. “In public service one keeps encountering many situations on a daily basis.

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Seven months ago we had to take a decision on urban slum dwellers. There was a choice between continuing the practice of evictions and treating people as encroachers resulting in lacks of families living in fear and insecurity or recognizing the immense contribution to the life of the city and providing them land rights.

Keeping people first , we choose the second option. A seemingly complicated situation always has a simple solution.

I am happy to learn that land settlement is being done in a systematic and scientific manner by using modern technology and with the involvement of community who will be deciding the settlement of land in favour of the slum dwellers, he said.

Tata Trusts, will be providing technical support. All collectors have been asked to accord priority to the work for slum dwellers. Secretary, Urban and Housing Development Department Mr Mathivatnan and Trustee, TATA Trust Mr Venkatraman signed the MoU.

Minister, Housing & Urban Development Niranjan Poojari, Chairman, Odisha Skill Development Authority Bagchi, Chief Secretary, A P Padhi were present.