Maharashtra govt proposes to unlock NDZs, agri land for low-cost housing in smaller cities | Mumbai news - Hindustan Times
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Maharashtra govt proposes to unlock NDZs, agri land for low-cost housing in smaller cities

Hindustan Times | By, Mumbai
Dec 04, 2016 08:12 PM IST

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led Maharashtra government has proposed to open up no-development zones and agricultural lands in the state’s smaller cities and set up affordable housing there.

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led Maharashtra government has proposed to open up no-development zones and agricultural lands in the state’s smaller cities and set up affordable housing there.

In May last year, the Devendra Fadnavis-led government stated its intention to build 19 lakh affordable houses for the economically-weaker sections and lower-income groups under the ‘housing for all’ mission by 2022.(HT)
In May last year, the Devendra Fadnavis-led government stated its intention to build 19 lakh affordable houses for the economically-weaker sections and lower-income groups under the ‘housing for all’ mission by 2022.(HT)

The state plans to grant residential development rights on no-development zones and agricultural plots — considered to be ecologically sensitive areas — at a premium of 5% of the plot’s ready reckoner rate in all D class municipal corporations. These include Solapur, Kolhapur, Ahmednagar, Aurangabad, Jalgaon, Dhule, Amravati, Chandrapur, Latur, Malegaon, Parbhani, Akola, Sangli-Miraj and Nanded-Vaghela.

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However, residential development rights on such plots will be given only for projects undertaken under the ‘housing for all’ mission, formulated under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY). The state urban development department has published a draft notification, inviting suggestions and objections to the proposal.

The government permits restrictive development — with a floor space index (FSI) of 0.2 to 0.4 — for services such as golf clubs, amusement parks, shooting ranges, wayside highway amenities, educational institutions, research and development institutions and agricultural education. FSI refers to the ratio of the built-up area to the plot area.

Since it came to power in 2014, the BJP-led state government has taken several measures to unlock agricultural land for industries across the state. The government has also been pushing to free no-development zones and salt-pan lands, especially in Mumbai, for low-cost housing. It has backed up its argument by saying these areas are not called “never development zones” and were originally set aside for future development.

“If a PMAY project is approved in a no-development zone or an agriculture zone land in a D-class municipal corporation, it will be considered as though it is in a residential zone. Regulations such as the FSI, side margins and the height of the building will apply as per residential zone rules. However, there will be restrictions on using transfer of development rights and premium FSI on such land,” said an official from the state urban development department.

He added that the government is trying to ensure that lands which deserve environmental protection are preserved. “Such development will not be permitted on lands such as hills, hilltops, quarries, catchment areas of lakes, forest lands, mangroves, marshy areas, lands used for orchards and nurseries,” the official said.

In May last year, the Devendra Fadnavis-led government stated its intention to build 19 lakh affordable houses for the economically-weaker sections and lower-income groups under the ‘housing for all’ mission by 2022. The government has announced a slew of concessions to government and semi-government agencies who take up such projects. These include giving land at a nominal price of Rs1 per sq m, a 50% concession in land measurement fees, reduced development charges and a lower stamp duty for the first allotment of tenements.

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  • ABOUT THE AUTHOR
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    Manasi Phadke is a Special Correspondent with Hindustan Times. She covers politics and governance in Maharashtra with a special interest in urban development issues.

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