The Karnataka government has directed the Bengaluru Metropolitan Region Development Authority (BMRDA) to guide local planning authorities of Ramanagaram, Solur, Nandagudi and Sathanur to regulate growth in these towns by preparing master plans.
The government’s move is to check unplanned growth and unauthorised constructions in these towns after they were dropped from a proposal to develop them as integrated satellite townships around Bengaluru to decongest the state capital. At present, these towns do not have proper zoning regulations.
The JD(S)-BJP government, in 2006, proposed to develop these towns and also Bidadi as integrated satellite townships. As part of the project, a notification was issued to stop conversion of agricultural land and development of private layouts in these towns.
However, as years moved on, the proposal to develop integrated township at Bidadi was retained while that for the other four towns was dropped. In 2013, the then BJP government withdrew the notification which disallowed conversion of agricultural land for residential and commercial activities in the four towns.
Urban development department officials point out that since the withdrawal of the notification there has been haphazard and unregulated growth in the towns due to lack of zoning regulations, necessitating the need for master plans.
The State Cabinet, in April this year, gave its nod for preparing master plans for the four towns. The urban development department has since written to the BMRDA to guide the local planning authorities in preparing the master plans. Once the draft master plans are ready, objections would be called from the public, after which it would be notified as per the provisions of the Karnataka Town and Country Planning Act, 1961.
The master plans, which will specify the zoning regulation, development code, planning guidelines and space requirements for various socio-economic activities, will be in effect for a period of 15 years since the date of notification, sources said.
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