The Hindu : New Delhi News : DDA move on zonal plans raises questions

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, May 31, 2006

New Delhi

New Delhi

DDA move on zonal plans raises questions

Staff Reporter

`What is the logic of having zonal plan for 2001 now when Draft MPD-2021 has been sent for approval?'

NEW DELHI: At a time when the Draft Master Plan for Delhi-2021 has been passed by Delhi Development Authority and sent to the Centre for approval, DDA is going to put before the Authority meeting on Wednesday a proposal to pass the zonal plans under MPD-2001!

According to some members, DDA is trying to undo the wrongs of the last 50 years at one go. "Is it trying to move forward or go 20 years back? What is the logic of having the zonal plan for 2001 now when Draft MPD-2021 has been sent for approval?" wondered MLA Nasirpur and DDA member Mahabal Mishra.

What also peeved the members was the hush-hush manner in which the agenda for the Authority meeting was circulated at the eleventh hour.

"The proposal will be opposed vehemently as it does not take into account the ground reality," said Mr Mishra.

Another member, Municipal Corporation of Delhi Councillor Virender Kasana, said while MPD-2001, under which the guidelines for the Zonal Plans had been finalised, had been adopted, the Zonal Plans had not been made.

"These plans are essential for taking into consideration the situation on the ground and deciding how vacant land can be used for various developmental activities."

But, Mr Kasana said, while the plans for the 15 zones are being finalised, the exercise is more of a "cover-up".

"Take the case of Mithapur village. Here large stretches of land have been shown as vacant whereas in reality unauthorised colonies -- which would soon be regularised -- exist there. While this would not cause any harm to the residents, when developmental projects like schools and hospitals will be planned for these areas, they will have to be shelved and reworked due to absence of vacant land," he said.

Incidentally, Mr Kasana said, DDA was only carrying out the exercise due to court orders. The Supreme Court had on April 28 while hearing the sealing case stated that the issue of failure on the part of DDA to come out with the zonal plans would be examined later stage but it would be upon them to file response on it. "If zonal plans were not prepared by DDA, the Centre would place on record the reason for the failure. It will also have to go into the issue of if there was failure on the part of DDA then what had prevented the Centre from issuing directions under the relevant provision."

The court had also noted that whatever be the present position the Government would place detailed facts before the Monitoring Committee and explain the areas in respect of which it desired that the existing norms of mixed land use be applied for preparation of zonal plan and identification of roads, streets to give some relief to the "misusers".

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