Haryana allows educational institutions in agriculture zones
Pradeep Sharma
Tribune News Service
Chandigarh, July 8
The Haryana Government has allowed educational institutions to be set up in agriculture zones in the state after getting approval for change of land use (CLU)—a major departure from the state’s existing policy.
The state’s current policy grants CLU for educational activity only in cases of “public interest”.
K. Makrand Pandurang, Special Secretary, Department of Town and Country Planning (DTCP), said in a recent order that using land in an agricultural zone for setting up educational institutions was now permissible.
“An amendment in the zoning regulations of the development plans would be carried out and parameters mentioned in the current policy would made part of zoning regulations,” the order said.
Under the new policy, a proposed educational institution should be conceptualized as supporting the hinterland for rural areas and urbanisable area surrounding it. The site should be approachable from minimum 33-feet wide revenue rasta/public road, in case of primary school, middle school, high school and senior secondary school.
In case of university/engineering/ architecture college, medical college, B.Ed college, ITI, polytechnic, hotel management colleges, skill development centres, special and skill training institutes for providing self employment, the site should be approachable from minimum 40-feet wide revenue rasta/public road.
In case of a proposed skill development centre and a specialised technical training institute an application should be accompanied by a scheme/plan of their surrounding region in term of providing the opportunities for the relevant skilling to the local youth.
The proposed skill development centre and specialised technical training institute must also submit a plan for the opportunities of the development concerned region under Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) if the institution has a technical or skill centre.
The order said the amendment in the zoning regulations of the development plans could take time and until there is a final notification of the amendments, the cases for allowing educational institutes in an agriculture zone should be submitted to the state government for approval.
