UP development authorities to acquire 83,000-acre land

Over 2,900 revenue villages were separately notified by the state government since May 2007

Even as land acquisition for development activities in Uttar Pradesh remains an uphill task for the authorities due to opposition from farmers, the state government has under consideration acquisition of over 83,000 acres across the state.

The acquisition is being considered by nine development authorities constituted under the Uttar Pradesh Industrial Area Development Act, 1976.

The nine development authorities, include New Okhla Industrial Development Authority (Noida), Bhadohi Industrial Development Authority (BIDA), Gorakhpur Industrial Development Authority (GIDA), Satharia Industrial Development Authority (SIDA), Greater NOIDA, Yamuna Expressway Industrial Development Authority (YEIDA), UP State Industrial Development Authority (UPSIDA), Lucknow Industrial Development Authority (LIDA) and UP Expressway Industrial Development Authority (UPEIDA).

Since their inception, these authorities had already acquired almost 78,000 acres of land so far all over Uttar Pradesh.

However, LIDA and UPEIDA are yet to acquire any land for their projects.

According to the details provided by the Mayawati government in the state Assembly today, maximum 32,260 acres had already been acquired by Greater Noida, followed by 23,559 acres by Noida.

UPEIDA is eyeing acquisition of over 72,000 acres. While, work on Yamuna Expressway is going on, Ganga Expressway is yet to be cleared by the Union environment ministry and is yet to take off.

Besides, over 2,900 revenue villages had been separately notified by the state government since May 2007 (when Mayawati government assumed power) for various projects under the industrial development authorities.

Over 1,900 and 1,000 villages had been notified for UPEIDA and YEIDA respectively. Six villages had been notified under LIDA, which is facing stiff opposition from land owners pertaining to rates of compensation.