JD (S) opposes scrapping of ULC act

Mumbai, Sep 15 (UNI) Janata Dal (S) today proposed move of the Maharashtra Government to scrap the Urban Land Ceiling (ULC) act and urged them to use the vacant land in Mumbai for the common good of the people.

Addressing a press conference here, veteran socialist leaders from Mumbai Mrinal Gore and P B Samant said vacant land in the city should be stopped from being grabbed by capitalists and builders.

''Organised workers in Mantralaya, Banks, Insurance and other public and private sectors should make a demand for such land to construct houses for needy employees. Needy people from the unorganised sectors and slum dwellers should form groups and make such a demand. These demands should reach the Chief Minister before the winter session of the state Legislature in December,'' they appealed.

Referring to the writ petition filed by them in the High Court last month seeking information from the Government as to how much vacant land is available under the ULC, and how much land has actually been acquired, Mr Samant said the government told the court that there are 338 land holders who hold ten acres or more and they have declared 17097 acres as vacant land. The court was told that the State government has accquired 230 acres of vacant land and it is alloted to Nagari Nivara Parishad, MHADA and some other institutions.

Out of the balance land, 1009.75 acres will be acquired in six months. The process of acquiring the remaining area of 15,857 acres will be completed by December 2007.

He said the State Government can acquire the vacant land under ULC provisions by paying Rs six to seven crore to 338 land holders.

The market price of this at the minimum rate of Rs 650 per sq ft fixed by the State Government will come to Rs 43,992 crore, he added.

Stating that under no circumstances, he said the State Legislature should repeal ULC act and the government should acquire the land.

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