Draft plans favour quota in housing plots for poor

They provide zoning regulations in 5 towns

 The recently approved draft master plans for Anekal, Hoskote, Kanakapura, Nelamangala and Magadi have recommended that 20 per cent of the total land area earmarked for residential development should be reserved for low income group and economically weaker section (EWS).

The master plans provide the zoning regulation and developmental framework for the five towns and their surroundings, covering nearly 2,600 sq km around Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) limits till 2031.

Planning standards stipulate that around 35 to 45 per cent of the total area that can be urbanised in a region should be earmarked for residential purposes.

The master plans further propose that 20 per cent of this  zone should be allotted for EWS and LIG section. As per the norms, urban poor having an annual household income of up to Rs one lakh per annum are classified as EWS and those falling between Rs one lakh and two lakh are categorised as LIG.

The Hoskote draft master plan goes a step further and recommends that a special cess may be collected by the local planning authority for construction of the EWS houses.

All the draft master plans have recommended the formation of a special heritage committee for identifying heritage structures, precincts of historic and aesthetic value, cultural and environmental significance.

Once the committee identifies the places, the local planning authorities will demark the same as “special development control area” for regulation of development around these areas.

The Kanakapura draft master plan has laid emphasis on integration of large industrial estates with the local economy, given the large number of industrial hubs in the region.
It has also been recommended to constitute review committees to implement the objectives of the master plans.

The panels will be headed by deputy commissioners of the districts under whom the planning areas fall and will comprise a representative of Bangalore Metropolitan Region Development Authority (BMRDA), the jurisdictional PWD Executive Engineer, representative of the local zilla panchayat and member secretary of the local planning authority.

The panel will have to meet every quarter and review the performance with respect to specific targets.

Besides, an independent evaluation of the master plans will be done by the BMRDA once in every five years.