The Maharashtra Legislative Assembly on Thursday passed a resolution to repeal the Urban Land Ceiling Act of 1976, which had been blocking the release of funds for urban development by the Centre to the state.

Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh moved the resolution, which was passed by a voice vote amidst slogan shouting by Shiv Sena members in the House. It was passed after a two-day discussion in a special sitting of the Lower House during the third Assembly session.

While the members of BJP remained silent during the reply, those from treasury benches welcomed the resolution by thumping desks.

The Centre had already repealed the union act before and had blocked the release of funds under the Jawaharlal Nehru Urban Renewal Mission till ULCA was repealed by Maharashtra.