The West Bengal Slum Areas ( Improvement And Clearance ) Act, 1971

Zegtstered No. C207 No. 35A(V) 
Tatrutta 6azritr 
 
Rai* fir-A 
 
       
Extraordinary 
Published by Authority 
 
            
            
MAGHA 5 ] 
   
MONDAY, JANUARY 25, 1971 	 SAKA 1892 
PART V—Acts of the Parliament of India assented to by the President and Acts enacted and Ordinances 
promulgated by the President. 
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA 
MINISTRY OF LAW 
(Legislative Department) 
New Delhi, the 25th January, 19711Maglza 5, 
1892 (Saka). 
The following President's Act enacted on the 23rd Janu-
ary, 1971, is published for general information:— 
THE WEST BENGAL SLUM AREAS (IMPROVEMENT 
AND CLEARANCE) ACT, 1971 
No. 2 of 1971 
Enacted by the President in the Twenty-first Year of the 
Republic of India. 
An Act to provide for the improvement and clearance of the 
slain areas in West. Bengal and for matters connected 
therewith or incidental. thereto. 
In exercise of the powers conferred by section 3 of the 
17 of 1970. West Bengal State Legislature (Delegation of Powers) Act, 
1970, the President is pleased to enact as follows:— 
CHAPTER 
PRELIMINARY 
1. (I) This Act may be called the West Bengal Slum 
Areas (Improvement and Clearance) Act, 1971. 
(2) It extends to the whole of the State of West Bengal 
except the places which are declared as Cantonments under 
2 of 1924. 	 the Cantonments Act, 1924. 
(3) It shall not come into force in any area to which this 
Act extends unless that area has been declared under section 
3 to be a slum area and shall come into force in such area . 
Short title, 
extent and 
COM- 
menco-
moot. 
396(b) 	
THE CALCUTTA GAZETTE, EXTRAORDINARY, JANUARY 25, 1971 	 [PART 1  
Defini- 
tions. 2. In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires,— 
(a) "Calcutta Metropolitan , District" means the area des-
cribed as such in the Schedule to the Calcutta 
Metropolitan Planning Area (Use and Develop-
ment of Land) Control Act, 1965 ; 
(b) "hut" means any structure, no substantial Part of 
which, excluding the walls up to a height of fifty 
centimetres above the floor level, is constructed 
of masonary, reinforced concrete, ferro-concrete„ 
cemented brick work, steel, iron or other metal or 
any combination thereof or pre-fabricated mate-
rials ; 
(c) "intermediary" means a proprietor, a tenure-holder, 
a lessee or a sub-lessee or holder of any other ten-
ancy interest in land, whether liable to pay any 
rent or not, but does not include a thika tenant ;, 
(d) "notification" means a notification published in the 
Official Gazette ; 
(e) "occupier", in relation to any land, hut or other 
structure, includes— 
(i) any person who, for the time being, is paying, or 
liable to pay, to the owner, the rent or any por-
tion of the rent thereof, 
(ii) an owner in occupation of, or otherwise using, such 
land, hut or other structure, 
(iii) a rent-free tenant, 
(iv) any person who is a licensee in occupation, and 
West 
Bengal 
ActXIV 
of 1965. 
(v) any person who is liable to pay to the owner dam-
ages for the use and occupation of such land, 
hut or other structure ; 
(f) "owner", in relation to a land, hut or other structure, 
includes any person who is receiving or is entitled 
to receive the rent of such land, hut or other 
structure on his own account or on behalf of him-
self and others or as agent or trustee, or who 
would so receive the rent or be entitled to receive 
it if the land, hut or other structure were let to a 
tenant ; 
(g). "prescribed" means prescribed by rules made under 
this Act ; 
(h) "prescribed authority" means— 
(i) in respect of any area within the Calcutta Metro-
politan District,— 
(a) unless otherwise specified by the State Govern-
ment, the Calcutta Metropolitan Development 
Authority constituted under section 3 of the 
Calcutta Metropolitan Development Autho-
r] ty Act, 1970, or 
b) such local authority, having jurisdiction over 
any slum within such area, as the State 
Government may,, on the recommendation of 
the Calcutta Metropolitan Development Autho-
rity, specify, 
(ii) in respect of any other area, the local authority 
having jurisdiction over the area or any other 
authority, empowered by the State Government 
by notification, to perform the functions of the 
prescribed authority under this Act in such area ; 
Presi-
dent's 
Act 17 of 
1970. 
Declare. 
tion of 
slum area. 
Erection 
of,or 
addition 
oa
te air  
•
tion to, 
hut or 
other 
structure 
to be made 
with prior 
per-
mission. 
Pow e r t o 
order  
demolition 
in certain 
areas. 
DART VI THE CALCUTTA GAZETTE. EXTRA ORDINARY, JANUARY 25, 1971 	 396(e) 
West 
Bengal 
Act IT of 
1949.. 
(j) "thika tenant" has the same meaning as in the Cal-
cutta Thika Tenancy Act, 1949. 
CHAPTER iZ 
SLUM AREAS 
3. If the State Government is satisfied that the condition 
of the land, huts or other -  structures in any area is such that 
the continued existence of such conditions would be injuri- 
ous to public health 	 safety or to the health, hygiene or, 
morals of the inhabitants of such area, it may, by notification,, 
and in such other man :ler as maybe prescribed, declare such :  
area to be a slum area. 
4. No new hut or other structure shall be erected, and 
no substantial addition to, or material alteration in, any, 
existing hut or other structure shall be made, in any slum,  
area except with the previous permission in writing of the 
prescribed authority, obtained in such manner as may be 
prescribed, and in accordance with such general or special 
conditions, if any, ,as the prescribed authority may impose. 
5. (1) Where any work in connection with the erection 
of a new hut or other structure or addition to, or alteration 
in, an existing hut or other structure, has been commenced *  
is being carried on, or has been completed, in contravention 
of the provisions of section 4, the prescribed authority may,, 
after giving the owner of the hut or other structure, a reason-
able opportunity of being heard, serve a notice upon such 
owner requiring him to. demolish so much of the new hut or 
other structure as has been erected or so much of the addi-
tion or alteration as has been made, as the case may be, with-
in such time as may be specified in the notice. 
(2) On the failure of an owner to comply with the notice 
referred to in sub-section (1) within the time specified therein, 
the prescribed authority may cause the new hut, other struc-
ture, addition or alteration specified in the said notice to be 
demolished and recover the expenses of such demolition from 
such owner as if such expenses were a public demand. 
6. Where the prescribed authority is, upon the report 
from any of its officers or otherwise, satisfied that any hut or 
other structure in any slum area is, by reason of any omission 
to mal;c the necessary repairs, or by reason of any damage or, 
sanitary inconvenience or any impediment to the flow of 
natural light or air, unfit for human habitation, it may serve 
upon the owner of such hut or other structure, a notice re-
quiring him to carry out within such time, not being less than 
sixty days, as may be specified in the notice, such measures 
as, in its opinion, are necessary to render such -  hut or other 
structure fit for human habitation. 
7. Where sewer mains exist or have been laid within one 
hundred metres of any service privy or urinal in any hut or 
other structure or on any land appurtenant thereto within a 
slum area, the prescribed authority may serve on the owner 
of such hut, other structure or land, a notice requiring him— 
(a) to get such privy connected with the sewer mains, or 
(b) in the ease of a urinal, either to close it or to get it 
connected with the sewer mains, 
within such time, not less than sixty days, as may be specified 
in the notice. 
8. Where, in any slum area, public conveniences connec-
ted either with the sewer mains or any septic tank exist or 
have been provided within such distance of any hut or other 
structure as the prescribed authority considers reasonable, 
Power to 
require the 
carrying 
out of 
certain 
measures. 
Power to 
require 
service 
privy or 
urinal to he 
connected 
with sewer 
mains. 
Power to 
direct d is 
con-
tinuance 
of setrvirtn 
THE CALCUTTA GAZETTE. EXTRAORDINARY, .1 ANUARY 25, 1971 	
[PART V 
Power of 
prescribed 
authority 
to cause 
certain 
works 
to be done. 
Improve-
ment 
schemes. 
Right of 
user to rest 
in State 
Govern-
ment 
or pres-
cribed 
authority. 
sixty days, .as may .be specified in the notice, to discontinde 
the use of any service privy or urinal existing therein or on 
any land appurtenant thereto, and, if necessary, to demolish 
such service privy or urinal. 
9. (1) If a notice served on the owner of a hut, other 
structure or land under section 6, section 7 or section 8 is not 
complied with, within the time specified therein. the pres-
cribed authority may cause the work specified in the said 
notice to be done. 
(2) All expenses incurred by the prescribed authority in 
causing any work to be done under sub-section (1). together 
with interest thereon at the rate of six per centunz per annum 
from the date on which the demand for payment of such 
expenses is made until such payment. may be recovered by 
by it from the owner of the hut, other structure or land as if 
they were a public demand. 
CHAPTER III 
IMPROVEMENT, CLEARANCE AND REDEVELOPMENT 
10. (1) Subject to the provisions of this Act, the pres-
cribed authority may prepare such improvement schemes for 
the purpose of effecting such works of improvement as it may 
consider necessary in respect of any slum area and publish 
a copy of such schemes in such manner as may be prescribed. 
(2) The improvement schemes prepared under sub-see-
Lion (1) shall indicate the manner in which environmental 
improvements shall be carried out in the slum area, and may 
provide for all or any of the following matters, namely :— 
water supply, whether from any existing main belong-
ing to a local authority or otherwise ; 
(b) drainage and sewerage, whether to be connected 
with any existing channel or sewer main in the 
locality or otherwise : 
(c) construction of latrines connected either with the 
sewer mains or any septic tanks ; 
(d) sewage and garbage disposal: 
(e) raising, lowering or levelling any land in the slum 
area ; 
if) lighting and paving of footways, passages and path-
ways ; 
(g) improvement of huts or other structures ; and 
(h) such other matters as may be considered necessary 
for carrying out the objects of this Act. 
11. (1) Whenever it appears to the State Government 
that it is necessary for the purpose of implementing any 
improvement scheme prepared under this Act in respect of 
any slum area that the right of user in any land in or around 
such slum area should be acquired,— 
(a) for the purpose of laying or erection of any cable. 
wire, pipe, post, drain, sewer main or channel 
through, across, under or over any road, passage, 
footway or pathway, or 
(b) for the installation of any equipments or appliances, 
or 
(c) for the construction of any other work, 
the State Government may, by notification, and in such other 
manner as may be prescribed, declare its intention to acquire 
(a) 
'ART V] THE CALCUTTA GAZETTE, EXTRA ORDINARY, JANUARY 25, 1971 	 396 (e) 
over which the right of user is to be acquired and inviting 
suggestions or objections from persons likely to be affected 
thereby within such time as may be prescribed. 
(2) Every suggestion or objection received in pursuance 
of the notification referred to in sub-section (1) shall be for-
warded by the State Government to the prescribed authority 
and 'the prescribed authority shall after giving a reasonable 
opportunity of being heard, to all the affected persons and 
after making such inquiry as it may consider necessary, sub-
mit a report to the State Government stating its views there-
on and the State Government may, after considering the 
views of the prescribed authority, by notification, declare 
that the right of user in the land should be acquired. 
(3) On the date of publication of the declaration under 
sub-section (2), the right of user in the land shall vest absolu-
tely in the State Government free from all incumbrances. 
(4) Notwithstanding anything contained in sub-section 
(3), the State Government, on such terms and conditions as 
it may think fit to impose, direct by order in writing that the 
right of user in the land shall, instead of vesting in the State 
Government, vest in the prescribed authority on the date of 
publication of the declaration. 
(5) If, within a period of three years from the date of issue 
of the notification under sub-section (1), no declaration is 
published under sub-section (2), such notification shall cease 
to have effect on the expiration of that period. 
12. Where the right of user in any land has vested in 
the prescribed authority under section 11, it shall be lawful 
for any person authorised by such prescribed authority to 
enter into or upon the land and do all things necessary for 
carrying out the works of improvement referred to in sub-
section (1) of section 11 and take such steps as are necessary 
for the repair and maintenance of such works. 
13. (1) Where it appears to the prescribed authority that 
in view of the unhealthy, unhygienic, insanitary and congested 
conditions existing in a slum area, it is not expedient to carry 
out works of improvement in pursuance of the improvement:' 
schemes prepared under this Act for such slum area without 
redeveloping that area after demolishing the huts and other 
structures thereon, it may prepare a scheme, to be known as 
a "Slum Clearance and Redevelopment Scheme" and publish' 
a copy thereof in such manner as may be prescribed inviting 
suggestions and objections. 
k2) Every such Scheme shall, as far as practicable, indi-
cate the manner in which clearance and redevelopment shall 
be carried out and may provide for all or any of the follow-
ing particulars, namely :— 
(a) the acquisition of any land or other property in the 
area comprised in the Scheme, or affected by, or 
required for the execution of, the Scheme ; 
(b) the reservation, acquisition or allotment of land or 
other property for any of the matters specified in 
sub-section (2) of section 10 ; 
(c) the laying or relaying of any area comprised in the 
Scheme ; 
(d) the provision of alternative accommodation, tem-
porary or permanent, for the inhabitants of the. 
area who may be displaced by reason of the execu-
tion of the Scheme or any part thereof ; 
te) the construction. alteration or widening of streets or 
Power to 
enter and 
carry out 
measures 
to imple-
ment im-
provement 
scheme. 
Slum 
Clearance 
and Rede-
velopment 
Scheme. 
39t(f) 	 THE CALCUTTA GAZETTE, EXTRA ORDINARY, JANUARY 25, 1971 	 [PART 
(f) the suspension, as far as may be necessary for the 
proper carrying .out of the Scheme, of any rule. 
bye-law, regulation, notification or order made or 
issued under any law for the time being in force 
which the Legislature of the State is competent 
to make; 
(g) an estimate of the total cost of the Scheme ; and 
(h) such other matters not inconsistent with the objects 
of this Act as may be directed by the State Govern-
ment. 
(3) The prescribed authority, after considering any objec-
tion or suggestion relating to the Scheme referred to in sub-
section (1) and received within thirty days from the date of 
publication of the said Scheme and after making such modi-
fication in the Scheme as it thinks fit, shall, not later than. 
twenty-four months from the date of publication of the 
Scheme, • sanction it, subject to the approval of the State 
Government, by notification and by such other means as are 
calculated to bring it to the notice of all persons concerned. 
(4) Where a Scheme is sanctioned under sub-section (3). 
the State. Government may, on the recommendation of the 
prescribed authority, by order published in the Official 
Gazette, suspend, to such extent only as may be necessary, 
for the proper carrying out of the Scheme, any rule, bye-law, 
regulation, notification or order made or issued under any 
law for the time being in force which the Legislature of the 
State is competent to make. 
Power of 
State 
Govern-
ment 
to acquire 
land. 
14. (I) Where the State Government is of opinion that 
for the purpose of carrying out any Slum Clearance and Re-
development Scheme sanctioned under this Act. it is neces- 
sary to acquire any land or any other immovable propert y'
within, adjoining or surrounded by, any slum area, it may, by 
a notice published in the Official Gazette and by such other. 
manner as may be prescribed, acquire such land or immov-
able property with effect from such date as may be specified 
irk the notice. 
(2) With effect from the date specified in the notice re-
ferred to in sub-section (1), the land or immovable property 
as is mentioned in the notice shall vest absolutely in the State 
Government free from all incumbrances. 
(3) Notwithstanding anything contained in sub-section (2), 
the State Government may, on such terms and conditions as 
it may think fit to impose, direct by order in writing that 
such land or immovable property shall, instead of vesting in 
the State Government vest in the prescribed authority, and 
thereupon the prescribed authority shall— 
(a) take possession of the property as aforesaid in such 
manner as may be prescribed, and 
(b) clear and redevelop the area in accordance with the 
Slum Clearance and Redevelopment Scheme sanc-
tioned under section 13. 
(4) Before taking possession under clause (a) of sub-section 
(3) of any hut or other structure situated upon any land 
acquired under this section, such- officer of the prescribed 
authority, as may be duly authorised in this behalf, shall de-
termine, after such inquiry and inspection as may be consider-
ed suitable,— 
(a) the cost of erection or removal of such hut. or other 
struct u re , 
(b) the cost of dismantling and re-erecting any plant. 
machinery or other equipment used for any trade ".. 	 ,..,...:,,a e•••• 	 1-i,., Uvs 	 "IFI, elk •• 	 4•••• • ••• 
PART Nr1 THE CALCUTTA GAZETTE,. EXTRAORDINARY, JANUARY 25, 1971 	 396(g) 
(c) compensation of any temporary loss of vocation, 
and shall pay the amount so determined to the owner or 
occupier, as the case may be. 
Principles 
for deter-
mining 
compensa-
tion. 
15. (1) Where the right of user in any land has vested in 
the State Government under sub-section (3), or in the pre-
scribed authority under sub-section (4), of section 11. the 
State Government or the prescribed authority, as the case 
may be, shall be liable to pay to the owner and to any other 
person whose right of enjoyment in that land .has been injuri-
ously affected by reason of such vesting, compensation. cal-
culated at ten per centunt of the market value of that land on 
the date of notification under sub-section (1) -of section 11. 
(2) Where. in pursuance of any Slum Clearance and Re-
development Scheme, any land or immovable property hasp 
been acquired, and has vested in the State GOvernment under 
sub-section t2). or in the prescribed authority under sub-. 
section (3). of section 14, the State Government or the pre-
scribed authority, as the case may be, shall be liable to pay— 
(a) to each intermediary in respect of his rights and in-
terests— 
(i) in any land, an amount equal to twenty times, and 
(ii) in any hut or other structure situated in the land 
and belonging to such intermediary, a further 
amount equal to five times, 
the net annual income of such intermediary from such land 
or such hut or other structure, as the case may be ; 
(b) to every thika tenant in respect of the rights and in-
terests in any land, huts or other structures there-
on, at an amount equal to five times the net annuaL 
income of the thika tenant from such land, huts 
or other structures. 
Erplanation.—In this sub-section,— 
(i) "net annual income", in relation to any person, means 
the yearly average of hiS net income during a 
period of five consecutive years immediately pre-1 
ceding the date of vesting; 
(ii) "net income", in relation to any person, means• the 
amount arrived at by deducting from his gross in-
come the following, namely:— 
(a) the rents and taxes, if any, payable by such person 
in respect of the property concerned, and 
(b) the cost of management and collection calculated 
at an amount not exceeding three per centhm of 
the gross income ; 
(iii) "gross income", in relation to any person, means the 
income actually derived or derivable by such: 
person: 
'Provided that, where only a portion of any land is let out 
by any person for any period during the five con-
secutive years immediately preceding the date of 
vesting, the gross income of such person from the 
entire land or immovable property for such period 
shall be calculated on the basis of the income ac-
tually derived by him during such period for the 
portion so let out. 
16, The compensation payable in respect of the acquisi- manneror 
tion of any interest under this Act either to one claimant or Payment. 
   
THE CALCUTTA GAZETTE, EXTRAORDINARY, JANUARY 25, 1971 
 
         
         
         
to several claimants jointly shall, subject to the provisions of 
this Act, be paid in the following manner, namely:— 
ta) payment in cash shall be made in accordance with 
the following Table, namely:— 
TABLE 
Net compensation. 	 Payment to be made in cash. 
(1) For the first Rs. ,5,000 or 
less of the amount. 
(ii) For the next Rs. 6,000 or 
less of the amount. 
(iii) For the next Rs. 5,000 or 
less of the amount. 
(iy)r For the balance of the 
amount of compensation 
where such amount 
exceeds Rs. 15,000. 
100 per centum of the amount of 
compensation payable. 
70 per centum of the amount. 
50 per centurn of the amount. 
30 per centum of the amount by 
which the compensation exceeds 
Rs. 15,000; 
(b) save as othewise provided in clause (a), the balance 
of the compensation, if any, shall be paid to the 
claimants at their option in cash or in bonds issued 
by the State Government or the prescribed autho-
rity, as the case may be, repayable at par and' 
maturing at the end of fifteen years from the date 
of vesting and carrying interest from the date of 
such vesting at the rate of five and a half per 
cent urn per annum. 
Appeal. 17. (1) Any, person aggrieved by the amount offered to be' 
paid under sub-section (4) of section 14 or under section 15 
or apportionment thereof may prefer an appeal to such appe- 
late authority as may be appointed by the State Government 
by notification in this behalf and the decision of the appellate 
authority thereon shall be final. 
(2) No person shall be appointed under sub-section (1) as 
an appellate authority to hear appeals under this Act unless 
he is, or has been, or is qualified for appointment as, a Dis-
trict Judge. 
(3) An appeal shall be filed within such time and shall btu 
heard and disposed of in such manner and according to such 
procedure as may be prescribed. 
CHAPTER IV 
Power to 
obtain 
informa-
tion. 
MISCELLANEOUS 
18, (1) For the purpose of carrying out any of the pro-
visions of this Act and the rules or schemes framed there-
under, the State Government or any prescribed authority may, 
by order, require any person to furnish such information in 
his possession within such time, not being earlier than thirty' 
days from the date of issue of the order, as may be specified' 
in the order. 
(2) Every person required under sub-section (1) to furnish 
any information shall be deemed to be legally bound to do' 
so within the meaning of section 176 of the Indian Penal 
Code. 
46 of 1860. 
Power of 
entry. 
19. 	 Any officer of the prescribed authority duly 
authorised in this behalf may, with or without assistants and 
workmen, enter into or upon any land, hut or other structure d  
in order- 
1.;11 to make any incmirv_ insnertinn survey nr measure- 
*PART DJ THE CALCUTTA GAZETTE, EXTRAORDINARY, JANUARY 25, 1971* 	 996(4 
46 of 1860. 
(b) to take levels, 
(c) to dig or bore into the sub-soil, 
(d) to set out boundaries and intended lines of work, 
(e) to mark levels, boundaries and lines by placing marks 
and cutting trenches, or 
(f) to do any other thing, 
for the purpose of carrying out any of the provisions of this 
Act, the rules or schemes framed thereunder: 
Provided that— 
(a) no such entry shall be made between sunset and 
sunrise ; and 
(b) no such entry shall be, made in any hut or other 
structure or enclosed court or garden attached 
thereto save with the consent of the occupier 
thereof and, in case such consent is withheld, 
after giving three days' written notice to the 
occupier. 
(2) Any person authorised under sub-section (1) to enter 
any land, hut or other structure, and his assistants and work-
men, shall be deemed to be a public servant within the mean-
ing of section 21 of the Indian Penal Code. 
5 of 1908. 
20. For determining the amount payable under sub-sec-
tion (4) of section 14, the officer referred to in that sub-
section, and for determining the amount payable under sub-
section (2) of section 15, the prescribed authority or the appel-
late authority, as the case may be, shall, subject to such rules 
as may be made under this Act, and in so far as such powers 
are necessary for carrying out the provisions of this Act, have 
power, to summon and enforce the attendance of witnesses, 
including the parties interested, and to compel the produc-
tion of documents by the same means and so far as may be, 
in the same manner as is provided in the Code of Civil Pro-
cedure, 1908, with regard to a suit tried by a Civil Court. 
Power to 
summon, 
etc. 
21. No suit or proceeding shall lie against the State 
Government or any prescribed authority, and no suit, procee-
ding or prosecution shall lie against any person, for anything 
in good faith done or intended to be done in pursuance of 
this Act or any rule, scheme or order made thereunder. 
Indem-
nity. 
22. The provisions of any law for the time being in force Other laws in a slum area which are inconsistent with the provisions of to remain this Act shall, so long as this Act continues to apply to such suspended. 
slum area, remain suspended in that area. 
23. Notwithstanding the suspension of any law in force 
in a slum area by reason of the provisions of section 22, any-
thing done, action taken or work undertaken under any such 
.law shall, if it is not inconsistent with the provisions of this 
Act, continue to be done, taken or undertaken, as the case 
may be, as if that area had not been declared under this Act 
to be a slum area. 
Savings. 
24. Where the State Government is of opinion that in Revoca-
view of the improvements made in a slum area or for any tion of 
other reason, the continuatim of the declaration of any area declara. 
. 	 tion 
39 (j) 	
THE ;CALCUTTA GAZETTE, EXTRAORDINARY, JANUARY 25, 19Z1 
Power to 
make rules. 25. (1) The State Government may, by notification, make 
rules for carrying out the purposes of this Act. 
(2) In particular, and without prejudice to the generality 
of the foregoing power, such rules may provide for all or any of the following matters, namely:— 
(a) the manner of publication of copies of the schemes 
framed under this Act ; 
(b) the manner of publication of the notice referred to 
in sub-section (1) of section 14 ; 
‘c) the manner of taking possession of a property by a 
prescribed authority under sub-section (3) of sec-tion 14 ; 
(d) the time within which an appeal under section 17 
shall be filed and the manner and procedure of dis-
posing of such appeal ; and 
(e) such other matters as are required to be, or may be, 
prescribed. 
V. V. GIRI, 
President. 
N. D. P. NAMBOODIRIPAD, 
Joint Secy. to the Govt. of India. 
Reasons for the enactment 
The rapid growth of population and overcrowding have 
created bad slums in the whole of the State of West Bengal 
and particularly in the cities of Calcutta and Howrah. The 
average density of population in these two cities has gone up 
considerably in recent years. The common features of these 
slum areas are mainly dilapidated conditions of tenements, 
lack of civil amenities and community facilities. The conti-
nued existence of such slums is a menace to the safety, health 
and morals of the inhabitants and it is of imperative necessity 
;that improvements in, and clearance of, the slum areas have 
to be taken in hand immediately. The Government of West 
Bengal has not been able to effectively tackle the problem as 
•the provisions of the Calcutta Slum Clearance and Rehabilita-
tion of Slum-dwellers Act, 1958, are not considered to be: ad-
, equate for carrying out slum clearance and other improvement 
:measures. It is, therefore, considered necessary that a com-
prehensive Slum Improvement and Clearance Act should be 
'enacted under which Government should have the requisite 
:powers for , carrying out improvements in a slum area, clea-
rance of slums and, if required, for the redevelopment of 
slum areas. 
2. It is also necessary, for the purpose of carrying out 
improvements in a slum area, that the Government should 
have power to acquire any land or other immovable property, 
or to acquire the right of user in respect of any land, on pay-
ment of compensation. A certain percentage of the compen-
sation shall be paid in cash and the balance thereof shall be 
paid either in cash or in bonds, at the option of the owner of 
the property which has ben acquired. 
3. Since the earlier Act is applicable to the area sought 
to be covered by the present Act, a provision has been made 
to the effect that so long as the present Act is applicable to 
PART VI THE CALCUTTA GAZETTE, EXTRAORDINARY, JANUARY 25, 1971 	 396(k) 
4. The Committee constituted under the proviso to sub-
section (2) of section 3 of the West Bengal State Legislature 
(Delegation of Powers) Act, 1970 (17 of 1970), has been con-
sulted before the enactment of this measure as a President's Act. 
P. R. NAYAK, 
Secy. to the Govt. of India, Ministry 
of Health and Family Planning and 
Works, Housing and Urban 
Development. 
(Department of Works, Housing and 
Urban Development). 

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