- SOHINI BISWAS
INTRODUCTION
Regional planning deals with the efficient placement of land-use activities, infrastructure, and settlement growth across a larger land area than an individual city. Regional planning is related to planning in areas which fall under the category of urban, as it relates to land use practices on a broader scale. It also includes formulating different laws that will guide the different planning and management of such said regions. Regional planning can be done comprehensively by covering various subjects, but it more often specifies a particular subject, which requires a consideration region wise. Regions require different uses of the land; Protection of agricultural lands, cities, industrial areas, transportation centres and infrastructure, military bases and forest areas. Regional planning is the science of efficient infrastructure location and zoning for the sustainable growth of a region. Proponents of regional planning, such as new urban planner Peter Calthorpe, promote the approach because it can address regional environmental, social and economic issues that necessarily require a regional approach. A ‘region’ in planning terms can be administrative or partially functional and is likely to include a network of settlements and character areas. In most European countries, regional and national plans are ‘spatial’ directing certain levels of development to specific cities and towns to support and manage the region depending on specific needs, for example, supporting or resisting polycentrism.
Duties of the Regional Planning Board:
The duty of a Regional Board as per the Maharashtra Regional and Town Planning Act are: (a) To survey the Region, and prepare reports on the surveys so carried out; (b) To prepare an existing-land-use map, and such other maps as May, be necessary for preparing a Regional Plan; (c) To prepare a Regional Plan; (d) To perform any other duties or functions as are supplemental, incidental or consequential to any of the preceding duties, or as may be prescribed by regulation. Broad Provisions: a) Constitution of State Regional and Town Planning Board by the State Government for the purpose of advising on the delineation of the region for the planned development, b) Directing the preparation of cities, regional and area planning and authorities responsible for development c) Rise in of regional, metropolitan, and area planning and development authorities for different rural and urban areas within the State to undertake the preparation of development plans and to enforce and implement them, d) Co-ordinating the mechanism of planning and implementation of physical development programmes.
74th Constitution Amendment Act and Its Implication on the Statutory Process in Town and Country Planning:
First UDPFI Guidelines were prepared in 1996 in consonance with the provisions of 74th CAA. Part 2 contained required changes required in Model Regional and Town Planning and Development Law (Volume 2A) and the required updates and modifications in Town Planning Acts of Maharashtra {Volume 2B) and Gujarat (Volume 2C). The objective of the Volume 2 A and B was to guide and ease the State governments to incorporate the provision of the guidelines, especially of preparation Metropolitan and District Plan. However, very few of the State Governments incorporated the provisions in the Town and Country Planning Acts as suggested by UDPFI Guidelines, 1996.
Statutory Process for Planned Development of Towns and Cities:
Statutory process of master plan formulation in India was inspired by the erstwhile intensive planning system envisaged under the Town and Country Planning Act, 1947 of United Kingdom. As a number of the Town Improvement Trust Acts then in force in different states did not contain provisions for preparation of Master Plans, a need was felt to have a Comprehensive Town and Country Planning Act on the lines of U.K. Accordingly, Central Town and Country Planning Organization or TCPO drafted the Model Town and Regional Planning and Development Law in 1962, which formed the basis for different States to enact Town and Country Planning Acts, with modifications to suit local conditions.
Regional Development Plan:
The Regional Planning Committee may prepare a project or plans for the development of the region, which are collectively called the Regional Development Plan, and expand, revise, modify or supplement it from time to time. The parts of a regional development plan can only be accepted by the regional planning committee if they have been submitted to the management bodies of the units involved for review and recommendation within the period stipulated in the agreement. Third Party Funds, Grants, Services - The regional planning body may accept funds, grants, and services from the United States government or its agencies, the State of Minnesota or its departments, agencies, or agencies, or any government entity, either who participates in the regional agency or not and from private sources and civil society.
CONCLUSION
A law that provides for the planning of development and land use in the regions established for this purpose and the formation of regional planning authorities; Build better zoning arrangements to ensure that urban measures are properly designed and effective; provide for the establishment of new cities by the development authorities in order to make arrangements for the compulsory acquisition of land necessary for the public purposes with respect to the plans and for the purposes related to the aforementioned matters. It is advisable to plan the development and use of the land and the formation of regional planning committees in the regions established for this purpose. Better provision of land use planning plans to ensure that urban developments are carried out properly and that their execution is effective; allow development agencies to create new cities; foresee the compulsory acquisition of land that is necessary for public purposes in relation to the plans and for purposes related to the aforementioned matters. The UK Regional Planning Board has these tasks and powers compared to the Indian Regional Planning Board. Personnel, consultants, contracts: The regional planning council may employ a planning director and the necessary staff or appoint an advisory planning commission or both to fulfill its tasks and responsibilities. The regional planning committee can call in experts and consultants and contract with other planning offices for necessary services.
REFERENCE
1. https://www.lawyerservices.in/MAHARASHTRA-REGIONAL-AND-TOWNPLANNING-ACT-1966-SECTION-8-POWERS-AND-DUTIES-OF-BOARD (last visited: 22.10.2021)
2. https://www.slideshare.net/PrathamPincha/maharashtra-regional-town-planning-act1966-30136435 (last visited: 22.10.2021)