UDA approval for layouts put on hold

VIJAYAWADA: The Vijayawada, Guntur, Tenali and Managalagiri Urban development Authority (VGTM-UDA) has temporarily stopped the process of according permission to layouts following orders to that effect from the the Municipal Administration and Urban Development Department (MAUD).

The UDA authorities were also asked not to accord permission to even those who had already applied for approval to their layouts. Confirming this, VGTM-UDA vice-chairperson P Usha Kumari said that they had already stopped giving permissions to the layouts following oral instructions about two months ago and added, 'We have now received the orders in writing from the MAUD asking us to halt the process.'

The government has also asked the Revenue Department not to take applications from the layout developers regarding the conversion of agricultural land for non-agricultural purpose which is made through the payment of the non-agriculture lands assessment (NALA) tax.

Welcoming the state government's decision to stop according the approval for the new layouts, Greater Vijayawada Builders Association president Gadde Rajling said that it would help the people not to fall prey to the realtors who wanted to sell the plots in unauthorised layouts claiming that they were going to get the approval (LP NO) from the UDA soon.

It would also help the people not to purchase land where the government wants to get the land through the land-pooling system for the capital.

'Someone who purchases a plot in an unauthorised venture expecting that it would get the authorisation may stand to lose later if the same land is acquired under the land pooling system for the construction of the capital city.

In view of this, it is a good decision by the government not to give permissions until the place for the capital is finalised,' says a senior officer with the UDA.

'The people are not showing much interest in buying plots in the unauthorised layouts. The government's decision will also have a negative impact on those who wanted to sell plots without UDA approval,' said an employee with a real estate firm in the city.

On the other hand, several realtors and builders believe that the government would lift this ban on the approval only after revising the government market value for the lands.

It may be recalled here that the government had decided to increase the value from August 1 itself, but it had stopped this for various reasons.

However, the realtors observe that the government had stayed back due to an abnormal increase in the land prices in the market following the announcement of setting up the capital city in Vijayawada.

'I think the government would definitely revise the land values to earn more revenue,' said Gadde Rajling.