KANPUR: The Kanpur Development Authority has made a provision of Rs 300 crore in the 2013-14 budget to develop a land bank.

In a meeting held on Wednesdy, the KDA board took a decision in this regard and also cleared three residential schemes. Later, talking to reporters, KDA vice-chairman Jayshree Bhoj said that besides the earmarking the aforementioned sum for land bank, a sum of Rs 170 crore had also been allocated for the development of land bank.

She said that members of KDA board had sanctioned a total of Rs 1,20,273.04 for the development of the city. Provision for the infrastructure has also been made and Rs 28.68 crore have been earmarked for the same. The members also cleared the proposal worth Rs 78 crore for the development of 10 villages of Kalyanpur legislative constituency. Rs 81.35 crore were allocated for various schemes of KDA.

She said that Rs 50 crore were allocated for the Bhauti Mandhana by-pass while Rs 6 crore had been earmarked for the development of parks and beautification work and Rs 1 crore had been fixed for road development.

The vice-chairman also said that during the meeting it was decided to pay Rs 22 lakh per bigha as compensation to the farmers of village Nagva for the extension of Swarn Jayanti Vihar scheme. A total of 53.011 hectares would be acquired for the extension of the scheme. Around 160 farmers have already consented to the acquisition of their land after payment of compensation.

Similarly, around 80.1290 hectare would be acquired for the development of New Kanpur city phase -1. The vice-chairman stated that a policy for allotment of optional plot was also formulated.

A committee, comprising secretary, additional secretary, chief engineer, CTCP and respective zonal officer, would be constituted for the same. It was decided that priority would be accorded to cases dated after 1995. Residents who had already executed deeds would be given priority and on the recommendation of the committee they would be provided optional plot. After these residents, KDA would take up the cases of those who had paid the cost of plot.

Rent of colonies issue was also discussed . KDA has around 8,000 houses in 19 colonies. It was decided that a survey should be conducted and a list of original allottees would be prepared. The decision on the issue would be taken in next meeting. In another decision, honorarium of prosecutor has been enhanced from Rs 500 to 2,000 per month.

LUCKNOW: The Lucknow Development Authority (LDA) is likely to get a new blueprint of the ambitious Gomti riverfront development project.

According to LDA sources, the consultant engaged by the LDA for the project will give a presentation to the authority on April 25. The officials from the irrigation department and district administration will also remain present.

The project, inspired by the Sabarmati riverfront development, has been under consideration for past many years. It, however, could not take off due to lack of coordination between different authorities.

Sources said architect Aashish Srivastava will give the presentation of the project before the LDA authorities with some amendments in construction of embankments along the Gomti.

The project has been under scrutiny of the Samajwadi Party government since November last year. However, not much headway has been made since then. UP chief secretary Jawed Usmani has asked the officials to speed up the work on the Gomti river front project. Usmani has been insisting that the project report be prepared so that it could be put forth before the chief minister.

The report, Usmani said, should also incorporate the suggestions and views of the public, especially on the stretches along the Kudia Ghat, Pakka Pul in Daliganj, Hanuman Setu-Daliganj, Hanuman Setu-Nishatganj and Nishatganj-Gomti barrage.

The state government has also proposed a hydro-geological study of the area and preparation of a conceptual plan. Accordingly, the open spaces will be used optimally for construction of entertainment and development areas. These spaces, sources said, will be used for construction of a cycle track and other tourist hot-spots so that maximum number of people visit these places. Part of the funds, he said, sanctioned for other departments like urban development previously, be approved and included in the budget allocated for the project. LDA has been made the nodal agency for the project. It has to coordinate with other departments for timely execution of the project.