( 1) Where the C(')m~tent authority, upon report from any of its officers or otherw1se, is satisfied that- ( a) any area is or may become n source of danger to the health, safety or convenience of the residents of that ilrca C'r of its neighbourhood, by rca~on of the area. being low·lying, in\an\tary, squalid or otherwise; or
(b) the buildings in any area, used or intended to be used for human hahitation,-
(i) arc, iu any respect, unfit for human habitation; or
(ii) are, by reason of dilapidat ion, overcrowding, faulty arrange ment or design of such buildings, narrowness or faulty arrange ment of streets, lack of vent dation, ltght or sanitation facilities, or any combination of these factors, detrimental to safety, health or morals, It may, by notification in the Gazette, dcclhrc such area to be a slum area:
Providrd that hefore declaring any area to be: a slum area the compe tent authority shall consult the Chtef Town Planner or any officer of the Town Planning Department of the Government authorised by the Govern ment in this behalf.
(2) Every notification under sub section ( 1) shalt also be published by the competent authority in at least two nrwspapers havmg wide circula· tion in the area to wMch that notifica tion relatcc;.
(3) In detcrmini ng whether a building is unfit for human habitation for the purposes of this Act, regard shall be had to its condition in respect of the following mattt:rs, that is to say,-
(a) repa1r;
(b) stabtlity;
(c) freedom from damp;
(d) naturalligbt and air;
(e) water-supply;
(f) drainage and sanitary conveniences;
(g) facilities for storage, preparation and cooking of food and for the dispoml of waste water;
and the building shall be deemed to be unfit as nforesaid, if and only if it is so far defective in one or more of the said matteM that it is not 1easonably ~uitablc for occupation in that condition.