A. Srivathsan
“It’s a limited
exercise and a detailed exercise has to follow if we have to realise
the objectives of planning”
CHENNAI: After 33 years, Chennai has got its second master plan, and
much hope is placed on it to positively shape the metroplis. However,
even before the plan could be implemented through a Government Order,
an important railway link has been dropped and land uses are changed.
The recent fire accident in T. Nagar is a reminder about the poor
implementation of plan and rules. Will the new plan deliver what it
promises and is the CMDA equipped to implement it?
The master plan is a limited exercise and a detailed exercise has to
follow if we have to realise the objectives of planning says Tara
Murali, trustee of Citizen consumer and civic Action Group (CAG).
Parithi Ellamvazhuthi, Minister for Urban Development, on releasing the
second master plan, had emphasised that the plan was only a broad
framework and details were to follow.
The master plan has to now devolve into detailed development plans. It
is only at this scale can one understand how individual plots will be
affected by the policies and the projects such as road widening. The
city was divided into 96 planning zones during the first master plan
period. So far, only 56 plans have been completed. The remaining 40
plans need to be finished and all the 96 plans have to be updated to
incorporate the second master plan polices.
Prakash Challa, president, Confederation of Real Estate Developers’
Associations of India (CREDAI), Tamil Nadu, says quick publication of
detail plans is essential for the implementation of the master plan.
A senior official at the CMDA says they are aware of the shortcomings
and will speed up preparation of detailed plans. Outdated survey
records are an impediment, say CMDA officials. “Many records have to be
updated by the Land and Settlement Department. Survey at Alandur has
just been completed and resurvey at Tamabaram is yet to be done. There
are many other parts in the city where survey is incomplete.” Whatever
updated information we have has been incorporated in the second master
plan, says a senior CMDA official.
Transparency matters
Transparency of the master plan implementation seems to be a concern
for many.
Ms. Murali suggests that preparation of detailed plan involves local
bodies and the information be kept accessible to the public. “The land
use prepared by the master plan has to be adhered to and any changes to
it need to follow clear guidelines and the process must be transparent.”
Water bodies such as Pallikkaranai have to be protected from
objectionable activities, says Durganand Balsavar, member of the master
plan expert committee on land use. “They have to be delineated clearly
with proper survey numbers. The recent changes forced by the government
vindicate this and it emphasises the need for transparency.”
Much attention has been given to development regulations, but
implementation of various projects mentioned in the plan is crucial,
says K.P. Subramanian, member of the editorial committee of the second
master plan. “The main challenge facing the future of Chennai is the
development of infrastructure plan. The root cause for many problems in
Chennai is that development precedes infrastructure and not the other
way round. The master plan should quickly implement the infrastructure
grid. Road network must be put in place and when this is done,
development will be regulated efficiently,” he says.
Other challenges
Infrastructure projects such as bus rapid transit corridors have not
been fully integrated in the master plan. The two metro rail corridors,
too, have been conceived outside the plan. The plan for new Chennai,
south of Vandalur, is in its advanced state with land use and road
networks marked. This is not part of the master plan, says a government
source.
Without a proper integration, these projects will work at cross
purposes and the CMDA should take the initiative to co-ordinate and
integrate them into a comprehensive plan, says Ms. Murali.
Curbing building rule and land use violation have been the major
challenges facing the CMDA. “If the buildings continue to violate
rules, no matter what we plan, development of the city will be skewed,”
observes a senior official at the CMDA. “We are aware of the
limitations of the organisation and it is time to reinvent the
institution and second master plan could be the best opportunity,” he
adds.
http://www.hindu.com/2008/09/08/stories/2008090859760300.htm
Copyright © 2008, The Hindu.
