Urbanisation in NCR under close watch

NEW DELHI : In a bid to make the national capital region (NCR) a common economic zone, the urban development ministry has proposed to empower the NCR planning board to administer land use changes from agriculture to commercial or housing purpose.

The move would, however, require an amendment to the NCR Planning Board Act. NCR comprises Delhi and its bordering districts falling in Haryana and Uttar Pradesh.

The NCR board would maintain a database that would continuously monitor conversion of land to urban uses. This would ensure that land has been used for the purpose stated at the time of land conversion.

The government will also ask real estate promoters to seek permission only for projects that will benefit the city or town located near the project.

���It has been observed in many cases that states have ignored the proposals of regional plan. Since towns in NCR have witnessed massive expansion with an unprecedented conversion of agricultural land to urban uses, there is no indication whether NCR Plan prevails on the large scale change of land use in these towns.

Hence, it necessitates amendment to the NCR Planning Board (NCRPB) Act,��� a source in the urban development ministry said. Officials say the NCR is witnessing development of SEZs, hi-tech cities, export promotion industrial park and IT parks, which is not in consonance with the settlement structure prescribed by the NCR Plan.

It is feared that with the mushrooming of unplanned development, there could be development of enclaves without having planned linkages with different regions in the NCR.

���Such developments may become islands of prosperity without benefiting the rural hinterland and also foster imbalances urban growth. Hence, it is essential that there should be an authority to ensure conformity to the NCR Plan,��� an official said.