LDA V-C writes to state government to scrap decision

LUCKNOW: The vice chairman of the Lucknow Development Authority (LDA) has written to the state government, requesting it to reconsider the development body’s earlier decision of approving change in land use from residential to commercial - taken during the previous Samajwadi Party regime.

Justifying his stand, LDA V-C Prabhu Narain Singh apprised the government about objections received from various quarters regarding the development authority’s earlier decision. “Change in land use is neither in the larger interest of the LDA nor in the interest of the city,” he said.

At the LDA board’s meeting on May 24, a consensus was reached in this matter. It was decided that the state government should be petitioned accordingly.

To recall, during the tenure of the former LDA V-C Satyendra Singh, the development authority had passed a proposal at its board meeting giving consent for change in land use from residential to commercial. Former principal secretary (housing), Sadakant, had ratified the LDA board’s decision.

Beneficiaries of the LDA’s policy were influential politicians and bureaucrats. Members of the then first family of the state and people close to it, former BJP MP and others had figured in the first list approved by the then LDA VC for change in land use.

However, the new BJP government is in no mood to implement the decision.

The planning cell of the development authority prepared a proposal revoking its earlier decision, which was tabled during the May 24 board meeting.

The LDA said it was also finding it difficult to sell its commercial properties after the change in land use from residential to commercial was approved by the previous state government.

DECISION OF APPROVING CHANGE IN LAND USE FROM RESIDENTIAL TO COMMERCIAL WAS TAKEN DURING THE SAMAJWADI PARTY REGIME