LIDA spanning 30,000 hectares gaining momentum

Industrial enclave proposed between Lucknow and Kanpur

Nearly after a decade it was proposed as a major industrial corridor between Lucknow and Kanpur, Lucknow Industrial Development Authority (LIDA) is slowly gaining momentum on the ground.

LIDA has notified all structures and plotting within 84 villages under its jurisdiction would be deemed illegal without the approval of Authority.

Over the last several years, the area has witnessed intense growth of residential projects and setting up of institutions, especially along the Lucknow-Kanpur highway traversing Unnao district.

Several such structures now face demolition unless approved by LIDA under its Master Plan, which was approved around two months back. In the absence of Master Plan, these constructions and projects were approved by the respective zila panchayat.

LIDA has decided to exercise ‘power of entry’ enshrined under the UP Industrial Area Development Act 1976 to inspect such constructions and take penal action. The Authority would demolish structures found to be flouting norms.

LIDA Master Plan spans 30,000 hectares across 84 villages in Lucknow and Unnao districts and it trifurcates the notified land into Township A, B and C viz.

Township A is multifunctional zone near Lucknow; Township B comprises tourism zone around the Nawabganj bird sanctuary; and Township C is the industrial zone in Unnao.

The notified land would comprise 26% residential, 21% industrial, 20% green, 16% transportation zone and the remaining for commercial and mixed land use.

A high-level committee had been formed to procure land directly from farmers.

Uttar Pradesh government had constituted LIDA in July 2005 during the erstwhile Mulayam Singh Yadav government. It was aimed at boosting industrial and commercial activities in the region and attract investment beyond the National Capital Region (NCR) pockets of UP.

LIDA made sluggish progress during the previous Mayawati rule, although her government had planned to acquire about 2,000 acres along the Lucknow-Unnao highway in first phase. LIDA had also faced land acquisition hurdles.