The Hindu : New Delhi News : Integrated efforts mooted to make NCR a success

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Jan 07, 2005

New Delhi

New Delhi

Integrated efforts mooted to make NCR a success

By Lalit K. Jha

NEW DELHI, JAN. 6. Observing that the concept of National Capital Region has failed to take off so far due to the practice of piecemeal and ad hoc decisions, the Regional Plan-2021 has called for its time-bound and phase-wise implementation to make the NCR a success.

The Regional Plan, which was made public last week to receive feed-back, has recommended a two pronged strategy to make the NCR success: identifying the agencies responsible for implementing it and preparing an action plan for infrastructure up-gradation and its implementation. February 9 is last date for receiving public response.

Acknowledging that the NCR has been facing financial constraints in the previous years, the Regional Plan has recommended establishment of a Special Component Plan for the NCR in the Five Year Plans.

"Without this mechanism, adequate dedicated funds for the NCR plan will not be available," the Regional Plan said. Emphasising public-private partnership, the Plan said there was a need to evolve a stable and transparent official policies for entry and functioning of private enterprises in a competitive environment, adopting independent regulatory mechanism and establishment of single window system.

Among areas identified for private sector are acquisition and development of land, industries and wholesale trade, social infrastructure, local and trunk services, construction of block housing and expressways, mass transport system, power distribution, transmission and generation and telecom services.

Stating that its objective was balanced and harmonised development of the region, which is spread over 30,242 sq km in Haryana, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh, so as the pressure on Delhi could be reduced, the Regional Plan-2021 called for a unified power authority and a sub-grid for the NCR, besides recommending an integrated regional scheme to augment the water supply in the region.

In an effort to decongest Delhi and reduce pollution level, the Regional Plan has emphasised that only high-tech industries be allowed in the Capital. "Low-tech industries should be recycled into hi-tech and which are unable, should be phased out to be relocated outside Delhi," it said.

It said there was a need to rationalise the tax structure, extend uniform financial and banking services, remove restriction on inter-State movement of taxis and auto rickshaws, to provide uniform telecom facility and power supply, have integrated education policy and finally to have an integrated law and order machinery. "This rationalisation would ensure balanced development in the entire NCR region," the Plan said.

The Plan has also recommended demarcating "No Development Zone" so as to preserve natural features such as ridges, rivers and streams.

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