Six years on,govt to cut LIDA down to size

LIDA was constituted in July 2005,during the Mulayam Singh Government in the state. It was the brainchild of Amar Singh,who was then Chairman of Uttar Pradesh Development Council. He wanted to develop Lucknow as another industrial hub,like Noida or Greater Noida.

However,in six years,the authority has failed to acquire land even for phase-1 of its project because of lack of organisational infrastructure and financial backing. Then there were problems as there was overlapping of LIDA functions with the existing Lucknow Development Authority (LDA) and Uttar Pradesh State Industrial Development Corporation (UPSIDC). The government now feels that rather than investing on additional infrastructure,the existing LDA or UPSIDC could be used adequately.

As per the earlier plan,LIDA was to acquire about 24,000 hectares of land on the Lucknow-Kanpur highway for setting up an integrated industrial township on the pattern of Noida and Greater Noida. In phase-1,SEZs,a trade fare centre,technology parks,an industrial estate and residential areas were proposed to be developed on 2,100 acres.

However,because of shortage of funds and farmers’ agitations,the authority could acquire only about 350 acres of land in the last six years. This land is now likely to be transferred to UPSIDC,which takes up development of industrial areas across the state and also ensures acquisition of land for large projects.

Asked about the rethinking on the role of LIDA,Chief Executive Officer S K Verma¿said,“Things are at very initial stages and would be decided only in the upcoming board m¿eting.” Verma is also Managing Director of UPSIDC. Asked why the need was felt to limit the powers of LIDA,he said,“Land acquisition process is becoming tougher and tougher,thus it is being proposed that someone else can handle it,while LIDA can become a regulatory authority.”

LIDA is one of the eight industrial development authorities set up in the state under the Uttar Pradesh Industrial Area Development Act of 1976.

Others include the UP Expressway Industrial Development Authority,the New Okhla Development Authority,the Greater Noida,the Gorakhpur Industrial Development Authority,the Satharia Industrial Development Authority of Jaunpur,the Bhadohi Industrial Development Authority,and the Yamuna Expressway Industrial Development Authority.