Urban and Regional Planning: Issues & Challenges

S. B. Honnur, Director of Town & Country Planning,

Government of Karnataka

Planning scenario Planning practices in the country indicates that

planning objectives, policies and strategies at national level are basically formalised in the Five Year Plans which are economic and social in nature

According to Item 20 of Seventh Schedule of the Constitution of India the Concurrent List in the, social and economic planning is a joint responsibility of the Central and State governments.

However, land being a State subject, the role of the State Government becomes more pronounced in the implementation process.

PROCESS OF URBAN AND REGIONAL PLANNING

•Preparation of State Perspective Plan

•District Development Plan / Metropolitan

Region Development Plan

•Master Plan

•Schemes / Annual Plans

Contents of Perspective Plan•Eco sensitive zones of the state•Boundaries of all the urban and rural

settlements of the state• Mapping of transport and communication

networks• Mapping of natural features• Industrial, mining and related area• Disaster Zoning

Contents of Regional Plan•Physical setting, settlement pattern•Infrastructure resources•Transport•Environment and sustainability•Regional Policy and development strategy•Regional Land use•Disaster Management Plan•Implementation Strategies and

Management Structure

INSTITUTIONAL ISSUESPlanning function is a continuous process and

the Planning Department’s work continues from:plan preparation to plan processing, plan enforcement, plan implementation, plan detailing, plan review and then plan formulation and so on.

The plan formulation, implementation, monitoring and review exercises must be statutorily prescribed in the State Acts and completed within the specified time-frame and schedule.

In the context of these requirements institutional set-up has a vital role.

Amendment to the Act

• The Karnataka Town & Country Planning Act,

1961 needs to be revamped as per the 74th

Constitutional Amendment as the Karnataka

Urban and Regional Planning Act.

• The Model Urban and Regional Planning Act

prepared by TCPO may be the basis for bringing

amendment to the State Town Planning Act

INSTITUTIONS IN THE RESTRUCTURED PLANNING PROCESS

•State Urban and Regional Planning Board

•Metropolitan Development Committees

•District Development Committees

•Urban Local Bodies

Need of a Renewed Planning System: Major Issues

• Urban development issues specially in newly formed states and

backward areas

• Need for planning system uniformity in the country

• Problems in planning practices and requirement of coordinated

working between Departments/Authorities

• Issues in implementation of plans and projects by the States/ UT’s

in legal, funding and decision making aspects,

• Issues related to promoting rapid urbanisation and climate change

Need of a Renewed Planning SystemMajor Issues

• Lack of focus on economic aspects of plan implementation / budgeting

while preparing land use development plans etc.

• Need for inclusive Planning, people participation and planning for the

urban poor,

• Integration of Peri-urban areas in the planning process,

• SEZ’s or industrial development’s impact on spatial and urban

development especially when their location is near to large cities.

• CRZ policy and Coastal management in case of coastal cities.

• Special issues in urban development in hill states.

• Provisions for Affordable housing

Issues in implementation / enforcement of Master Plan

• The present proposals of Master plans are land-use

oriented and lack integration across sectors. i.e. Land

use with transportation , infrastructure, ecology &

environmental issues and socio-economic needs

• Heritage planning is ignored due to lack of funds by the

Authority

• Strict enforcement mechanism to curtail unauthorized

developments

THANK YOU