Vadodara Urban Development Authority (VUDA) Chairman Krishankant Shah told Express Newsline on Wednesday that the issue was taken up by the urban development authorities at a recent meeting with Additional Chief Secretary Manjula Subramaniam and Chief Town Planner V B Dave.

Shah claimed that Subramaniam accepted the suggestion and stated that the issue would be taken up in the meeting of the Revenue Department for final decision.

The urban development authorities get land from three quarters to introduce land development schemes viz: Reservation while making town planning schemes on its own, in town planning schemes made by the cities and, gauchar land or land surplus under the Urban Land Ceiling Act.

Shah said that the restrictions like using the land for only particular purposes hampered development and at times the urban development authorities had to pay more for development despite the fact that it has very little scope for income.

Emphasis was also laid on increasing grants for the panchayats so that they can maintain services like roads, drainages and water. The participants also discussed the possibility of holding a joint meeting of the urban development authorities and the panchayats before a final decision is taken.

They also discussed how more revenue could be generated from the villages under the jurisdicition of the authorities.

At the meeting, Shah gave a detailed information about schemes undertaken by the Vadodara Urban Development Authority to deepen three lakes to provide better facilities to the residents.