UP to build Taj Orientation Centre, Mughal Museum in Agra

Lucknow: Uttar Pradesh Government today decided to build Taj Orientation Centre and a Mughal Museum near the Taj Mahal in Agra and also gave its nod to construct Shilpgram anew.

The Cabinet meeting, presided over by Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav, gave its nod to rebuild Shilpgram near the eastern gate of the Taj Mahal and construct Taj Orientation Centre, an official spokesperson said.

For this purpose, about 11.50 acre land of the Industry Department will be handed over to the Tourism Department free of cost, he said, adding that budget for the same will be arranged from the infrastructural funds of the state.

The Cabinet also decided to hand over 5.9 acre land of the Power Department for setting up Mughal museum, about 1,300 metres from the eastern gate of the historic monument, the spokesperson said, adding it has been approved in principle to spend about Rs 129 crore for the purpose.

The Cabinet has also recommended relaxing of certain provisions for the people belonging to the SC community under the Uttar Pradesh Zamidari Abolition and Land Reforms (Amendment) Bill 2015, he said.

Under the present provisions, if a person from SC community holds land less than 3.5 acres he/she has to seek the District Magistrate’s permission to sell his land to a person belonging to other caste to ensure that he continues to hold at least 1.26 acres.

The proposed amendment seeks to relax the provision, the spokesperson said.

The Cabinet has also given its nod to rename UP Technical University after former president APJ Abdul Kalam and set up a memorial and a central library in his memory on its new campus, he said.