Mah govt to consult all political parties before repealing ULC: CM

Mumbai, July 19 (UNI) Maharashtra government will consult all political parties before taking a final decision on repealing the Urban Land Ceiling (ULC) act, Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh told the Legislative Assembly today.

Replying to a debate on Mumbai in the Lower House, Mr Deshmukh said, the Centre had put a condition of repealing the ULC act for release of funds under the National Urban Renewal Mission.

''We too have made a commitment to do so and cannot backtrack.

But, before taking a final decision, the government wants to consult all political parties as there are different views on this issue,'' he said.

Mr Deshmukh said Maharashtra and West Bengal were the only two states in the country where ULC Act was in existence.

Admitting that the law passed by the Legislature to regularise slums till 1995 and strict punishment to those who aid and abet proliferation of slums had not succeeded. In the last four years, only one ward officer has been suspended under the provisions of this law.

He also said that decisions taken by the governments had encouraged proliferation of slums. ''We keep on extending the cut off date and then provide free houses. This has become an attraction to come to Mumbai,'' he noted.

Mr Deshmukh said a task force dedicated to the job of preventing proliferation of slums in the city would be set up soon. He also stressed that Mumbai's growth and development topped the priorities of his government. ''All issues can not be solved immediately. But, certainly some progress has been made,'' he added.

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