How Green Zone Dilution In Draft NCR Plan 2041 Defied Objections

Source: The post is based on an article “How green zone dilution in draft NCR plan 2041 defied objections” published in The Times of India on 11^th July 2022.

Syllabus: GS 3 Environment and Ecology

Relevance: Draft Delhi Master Plan 2041

News: Recently, the draft NCR Regional Plan 2041 plan, which sets the contours of how the region will develop over the next two decades, was put in the public domain after approval from the NCRPB, for 30 days for feedback. It has attracted several objections.

Arguments in favour of the NCR Planning Board (NCRPB’s) proposals in the plan?

It has been mentioned that necessary provisions related to Natural Zone (NZ) are already in line with the decisions held at the level of the Ministry of housing and urban affairs (MoHUA).

What are the issues?

There are issues in balancing ecology and development because it proposes to alter ‘natural conservation zones (NCZ)’ to ‘natural zones (NZ)’

NZ doesn’t require mandatory conservation, like NCZs.  The NCZs are ecologically sensitive areas (ESZ) and restrict construction to only 0. 5% of the total area.

The Union environment and forest ministry have also flagged the shrinking of areas under NCZs. Therefore, it has suggested retaining the term ‘NCZ’ in the master plan 2041.

The Ministry also asked for the inclusion of a detailed land use plan, for NCZs and all of NCR, in the new plan.

Unlike, 2021 plan, where NCZ was clearly defined – “extension of Aravali ridge, forest areas, rivers, sanctuaries, major lakes and water bodies.”, the definition of NZs in the draft plan is generic, such as ‘mountains and hills’, and ‘rivers and water bodies created by nature’.

The draft plan does not mention a comparison of the change in land use, despite repeated insistence by the National Green Tribunal (NGT).  However, the Land-use maps, existing and proposed, have been an integral part of all previous NCR Regional Plans.

The scope of preservation of the NZs has also been restricted. The state governments would have greater discretion to decide on NZs at times when the state already defies the very concept of uniform development of NCR.

The Way Forward

The directions of the NCRPB in December 2017 regarding the definition of Aravalis (all areas recorded as ‘gair mumkin pahar’, etc in NCR) and identification of forests as per dictionary meaning in line with Supreme Court orders should be included in the 2041 plan.

The NCR Planning Board should seriously take into account the responses received during the feedback exercise.