Power of competent authority to require execution of works of improvement to slum areas.

In the principal Act, for section 4, the following shall be substituted, namely:- “4. (1) Where the competent authority is satisfied that at a reasonable expense- (a) any slum area or any part thereof is capable of being improved so as not to be a source of danger to the health, safety or convenience of the public of that area; or (b) any building being unfit for human habitation in a slum area can be rendered fit for human habitation, it may serve upon the owner of the slum area or part thereof or of the building, as the case may be, a notice requiring him within such time not being less than sixty days, as may be specified in the notice, to execute the works of improvement specified therein: Provided that where the owner of the building is different from the owner of the land on which the building stands and the works of improvement required to be executed relate to provision of water taps, bathing places, construction of drains, open or covered, as the case may be, provision of water-borne latrines or removal of rubbish and such works are to be executed outside the building, the notice shall be served upon the owner of the land. (2) In addition to serving a notice under this section on the owner, the competent authority may serve a copy of the notice on any other person having an interest in the slum area or part thereof or the building or the land on which the building stands whether as lessee, mortgagee or otherwise. (3) In determining, for the purposes of this Act, whether at a reasonable expense, the slum area or part thereof, can be improved or a building can be rendered fit for human habitation, regard shall be had to the estimated cost of the works of improvement of the slum area or part thereof or of the works necessary to render the building fit for human habitation and the estimated value that the slum area or part thereof or the building will have when the works are completed.”.