Pressure to open old ULCR files

While the state government is confident of repealing the Urban Land (Ceiling and Regulation) Act, 1976, with a two-third majority in the legislative assembly on July 31, officials in the deputy and additional collectors’ offices of the state’s eight cities that come under the Act, have a different story to tell.

Sources told DNA that at a high-level meeting on July 26, officials of the urban development department asked top officers in the deputy and additional collectors’ offices to open ULCR files, check all exemptions given and create cases for appeals. “We were instructed to check old files, declare land as surplus and slap hefty fines. Though many orders are faulty, we have to obey our bosses,” said an officer.

Ironically, while the state insists on repealing the ULCR Act by July 31 to get funds under the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission, sources from the collector’s office said that they have been given a deadline of October 31 to issue orders on surplus land and issue notification under Section 10 (3) declaring the same under the ULCR.

As of now, Mumbai, Thane, Ulhasnagar, Pune, Nasik, Nagpur, Sangli and Solapur are covered under ULCR. But a majority of files opened concern Mumbai and Thane, were land prices have skyrocketed in recent years. The government has acquired 1,000 acres of land under ULC so far. But not a single developer or owner has voluntarily handed over surplus land and gone in appeal. “The majority of this land is encroached by slums or is under reservation. Owners have appealed in the HC and the litigation takes years,” added an officer.