HC directs UT to notify its Master Plan-2031

The petitioner had sought directions to the Chandigarh Administration for preparation of Chandigarh’s master plan for planned development of the city and its periphery.

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Chandigarh administration’s counsel informed the court on Wednesday that the central government had raised some objections on the draft Master Plan and after the Chandigarh administration cleared those objections and sent back the Master Plan, it was finally approved by the ministry of home affairs.

Master plan is a vision for the city’s development till 2031 and the Chandigarh Administration has exhausted several deadlines granted by the High Court for its completion for which the High Court had expressed great displeasure to the administration. Shergill had filed the public interest litigation in 2008 in the High Court and since then the Chandigarh administration had sought a number of extensions to complete the Master Plan. Initially the urban development ministry had directed the Chandigarh Administration to complete the master plan by March 2011.

After finalisation of the draft master plan by the Chandigarh Administration in October 2013, it had invited objections from the Chandigarh residents.

Following this, as many as 171 objections were received by the Chandigarh’s Department of Urban Planning. After the notification of the Master Plan, the Chandigarh Administration would start its execution in a phased manner.

The case has now been posted for next hearing to May 7.

Fact file:
* Initially, the urban development ministry had directed UT to complete the master plan by March 2011.
* After finalising the draft master plan in October 2013, UT had invited objections from the city residents.
* As many as 171 objections were received by the Chandigarh’s Department of Urban Planning.