Mah Legislature takes up debate on ULC act repeal

Mumbai, Jul 31 (UNI) A resolution to repeal the 31-year-old Urban land ceiling (ULC) act was introduced in both houses of the Maharashtra legislature today.

The resolution was moved in the Assembly by Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh on the last day of the Budget session in April.

Leader of Opposition Ramdas Kadam, initiated the debate, which will continue tommorrow.

In the Council, minister of state for urban development Rajesh Tope read out the resolution and said the ULC act was enacted with a view to make the houses available for the poor and needy people.

He said while the government wants to repeal the ULC act it plans to introduce 'Vacant land tax act' on the lines of Karnataka so that landowners will have to pay tax if the land remains vacant for a period of two years.

Participating in the discussion, Gurunath Kulkarni (NCP) supported the bill and said though the act came with a motto to provide cheap houses to poor and needy people it did not achieve its goal.

UNI