Govt to use own ‘vacant land’ for projects

The Uttar Pradesh State Industrial Development Corporation (UPSIDC) has been given the additional task to conduct a survey to identify which of these lands can be given as a “sweetener” to private developers for developing infrastructure projects like roads and expressways under the public-private partnership model.

As a first step,all departments on the instructions of Chief Secretary Jawed Usmani have sent district-wise data of vacant lands available with them. After a preliminary survey,vacant land at about 1,551 places across the state has been identified,which runs into thousands of acres. These lands mainly belong to horticulture,agriculture,tourism,animal husbandry,small scale industry,irrigation and transport departments.

“After land acquisition related unrest in western UP in 2010 and 2011,the Samajwadi Party had promised to provide six times the circle rate as compensation for acquiring land. However,despite best of efforts,it has become difficult to come out with a formula under which farmers are given six times the circle rate and at the same time keeping the project financially viable. Thus,for the time being,this seems like a better idea to keep development projects going,” said a senior officer.

According to sources,quick allocation of land for Central Institute of Hotel Management,Catering Technology and Applied Nutrition in Amethi — the Lok Sabha constituency of Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi — was the result of this exercise. Congress leaders were surprised when the state government gave the land in less than 15 days of Union cabinet clearing the project. About 2.5 acres available with Rahi Guest House of Tourism Department in Jagdishpur was identified from the list of vacant lands.

After compilation of the initial data, now Housing and Urban Planning Department,Industrial Development Department,UPSIDC,Mandi Parishad as well as all district magistrates and commissioners have been asked to conduct their own surveys for finding out the “ideal use of land available with government department and institutions for developing public infrastructure.”

On identification of land for specific industrial,housing or other use,each of these cases would be taken up by the state cabinet for transfer of land from one department to another.