Hearing of objections to draft Master Plan begins

The 2031 draft Master Plan has proposed that Apartment Rules be introduced in the city that would allow floor-wise sale of houses. It is further proposed that redensification in the first phase be allowed. While some who submitted objections appeared before the Board,others gave it a miss.

Chand Nehru,a resident of Sector 7 had submitted a memorandum stating that the increase in the number of dwelling units in Sectors 1 to 30 would increase the demand of water and electricity. It would further put pressure on the infrastructure. The memorandum also added that infrastructure and civic amenities would be unable to cope with the increasing pressure.

Justice (Retd) S S Sodhi pointed out that reinstatement of Apartment Rules is beyond the scope of the Master Plan committee. The proposal given in the draft Master Plan for redensification of plots is against the Edict of Chandigarh.

A resident of Deep Complex Pradeep Jain said that the Master Plan shows the area as agricultural land despite the fact that several buildings,both commercial and residential are present. Jain rued that the Master Plan was drafted without considering the ground realities. He said that when buildings,approved by appropriate authority is present,the Master Plan should have included these. Otherwise,the status of these buildings would hang in balance.

Objection was also raised by BJP councillor Satinder Singh and others who demanded that the industrial houses in Sector 30 be allowed 85 per cent covered area against the 35 per cent at present. Residents of Khuda Alisher demanded that land be earmarked in the village for constructing religious buildings.

Once the hearing process is completed,the Board of Inquiry would prepare a list of objections that can be made a part of the Master Plan. Thereafter,these would be included in the final draft that would outline the development of the city for the next two decades.