Cabinet approves sops for IEDUs

Mumbai: The Maharashtra cabinet on Tuesday approved several sops for the setting up of institutions of eminence deemed to be universities (IEDUs). The cabinet, chaired by chief minister Devendra Fadnavis, gave its in-principle nod to the proposal during a meeting.

As per the cabinet decision, IEDUs can be set up in the state on any land under the jurisdiction of the approved regional plan. They will be provided a floor space index (FSI) of 1 on the gross area of the plot. The other benefits include deemed permission for the use of land for non-agricultural purposes and exemption from the Agriculture Land Ceiling Act. If the terms and conditions to get the FSI concession are not fulfilled within a specific time-frame, these institutions will be penalised. Promoters of IEDUs will be able to purchase agricultural land. They will have no concession from stamp duty.

A committee will be set up under the chairmanship of higher and technical education minister Vinod Tawde to implement the decision. An official from the CMO said that setting up IEDUs was a revolutionary measure.