Authorities allowed to buy land directly from owners, farmers

The UP Government has given the green flag to development authorities and housing boards across the state to directly purchase land from the owners and farmers for development.

According to a published media report, the decision will allow the Ghaziabad Development Authority (GDA) to purchase land to develop townships, for which it has been facing issues.

“The approval for purchase of land up to 10 acres can be made by the Vice-Chairman of the Authority. Purchase of land over 10 acres has to be approved by the respective board. The rates for the land will also be approved by a committee headed by the district magistrate,” a senior GDA official was quoted in the media.

The report said the Government order has made it clear that the land purchased in urban areas should not cost more than twice the market rate or the prevalent circle rate, whichever is higher. A price up to four times the market rate or circle rate has been allowed for land in rural areas.

In an earlier provision in May 2015, the rate of land costing up to Rs 10 crore was to be decided by a committee headed by the additional district magistrate and then approved by the district magistrate. Land costing more than Rs 10 crore was to be decided by a committee headed by the district magistrate and then approved by the divisional commissioner.

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“This process was time consuming and we had asked the state-level officials to simplify the process and allow the direct land purchase. There has been an issue and several acres of our land is tied in litigation due to which the authority could not carry out development works. With the new provision, the authority has formed a committee to look into possibilities of direct land purchase and development of townships,” the official added.