Land pooling scheme mooted for creating basic amenities

Ambika Sharma

Tribune News Service

Solan, May 27

The Town and Country Planning Department has initiated a land pooling scheme to reconstitute the plots for creating basic amenities in various Special Area Development Authorities of the state.

According to the directions issued by the Director, Town and Country Planning Development, which is perhaps the first such attempt, an effort is being made to define and demarcate the area for public purposes. The private plot owners can identify a common land where they can create facilities like building, roads, drainage, sewerage lines and other similar amenities.

State Town Planner, Sandeep Sharma, while confirming the development, said an effort was being made to pool land on the lines of town planning schemes in Gujarat where private individuals can set aside common land for creation of basic amenities.

The scheme can help in the planned development of plots where the key issue of developing basic amenities can also be taken care. It, however, fails to address the key concern of Section 118 of the HP Tenancy and Land Reforms Act, 1972, which is the key concern of private realtors.

Director, Town and Country Planning Department, has issued directions to various officials to work out its feasibility in their respective areas. The officials of Himachal Housing and Urban Development Authority have been directed to work out its modalities in Dharamsala and Member Secretary, Paonta Sahib, Una and Mandi as well as the Baddi Barotiwala Nalagarh Development Authority will work out its nitty-gritty in their respective areas.

The TCP Department will be required to prepare a town development scheme for a particular area where they will define and demarcate the area reserved for creating such basic amenities. Though the scheme is slated to ensure planned development of a new area in a town but whether it will be successful remains to be seen as issues like provisions of Section 118 can act as a damper.