Govt relaxes land-acquiring process

Govt relaxes land-acquiring process
Bill Will Apply To Town Planning Authorities, Help Citizens Too
The Times of India

Bangalore: Just when the Bangalore Development Authority (BDA) has finalised its revised Comprehensive Development Plan (CDP) for Greater Bangalore, encompassing 1,279 sq km, the state government has brought in a legislation relaxing the land acquisition process for citizens’ benefit.

According to an amendment brought into the Karnataka Town and Country Planning Act, the CDP will be called “masterplan’’ in future.

Henceforth, if any planning authority has to acquire any land designated for a specified purpose in the masterplan, it should be effected within five years of publishing the masterplan. Otherwise, the status will get lapsed. This rule applies to all planning authorities in the state.

For example: If a particular residential plot is designated as a park in the masterplan, then the planning authority should move acquisition proceedings and acquire the land within five years, failing which the plot will continue with its present status. After five years, the authority cannot stake claim over the plot, which can continue with its residential land use pattern.

“With the new legislation, planning authorities have to mandatorily acquire land soon after the masterplan is revised. They cannot dilly-dally with the issue as the deadline has been set. It is also beneficial to the land owners who will be sure about the status of their plot,’’ sources said.

The new legislation has specifications about the compensation payable to the property owner from whom the land is being acquired. In addition to the compensation amount, 12 per cent interest has to be calculated on the award right from the date of publication and notification of masterplan, till the date of taking possession of the land. The government has stated that at least once in every 10 years, the planning authority should carry out a fresh survey of the area within its jurisdiction to revise the existing masterplan.

The revised masterplan of BDA, pending government approval, has promoted a hybrid approach to zoning through recognition of mixed-land use, acknowledging market forces through proper FAR management, encouraging redevelopment, urban renewal and land development.

The first CDP of Bangalore was drawn up in 1984, which laid certain guidelines about land use patterns for the city. The CDP was revised in 1995, which had proposed eight classifications of land use. The revision had projected urban development to a tune of 590 sq km for 2011. Last year, the BDA took up revision of CDP to design the masterplan and detail the proposed land use map with projections for 2020.