Urban Development department of Maharashtra is not coming clear about the Gaothan issue leading to more confusion. According to some experts, if this delay continues further it would not only create chaos but give birth to unauthorised layout. In 2018, the Appendix L of Development Control Rules of Nagpur Metropolitan Region Development Authority (NMRDA) had specified the construction work to be done within the gaothan limit. It had given the limit also.

 

The new Unified Development Control Promotion Rules (UDCPR) has not come clear about it. The NMRDA DCR had specified that in the villages rural area or rural centre excluding the area of under nine urban centres, residential development or development allowed in residential zone, may be permitted within the periphery of Gaothan boundary as per the criterion. The criterion was the village with population upto 5,000 will have gaothan limit upto 750 meter while the village with more than 5,000 population will have 1,000 meter its gaothan boundary. The Unified DCR does not specify about the residential development in rural area/rural centres excluding the areas of nine urban centers of NMRDA.

 

These nine urban centers include Besa, Beltarodi, Shankarpur, Panjri, etc upto Jamtha. In fact Sheetal Ugale-Teli, the earlier Chairperson of NMRDA had in December 2020 sent a letter to Urban Development department seeking clarity in Gaothan issue. In her letter she had clearly pointed out that as per the Development Permissible Adjacent Gaothan provision the clause of residential use near Gaothan is included in the plan of NMRDA. But same is not the case in rural area. This is leading to several problems, Sheetal Ugale-Teli mentioned. She also requested to remove the loophole.

 

No decision was taken by UD yet and several cases of sanctioning, release order lying untouched. According to some developers, people will start selling plots without any approval. This will create havoc land dealing. After doing her job in a proper manner Sheetal Ugale-Teli got transfered. Will Manoj Kumar Suryavanshi, who replaced her give the justice to the issue as soon as possible remains to be seen. The DCPR of 2018 had said that the regulations would be applicable in respect of residential zone.

 

Whether the conditions of Appendix - L mentioned in DCR of NMRDA (published on January 5, 2018) are still applicable, is a million dollar question. In the villages in rural area /rural centres excluding nine urban centers of NMRDA region, whether residential development can be permitted within area of 750 meter or 1000 meters from gaothan boundary is also not given. Most builders, developers have approached the authority to get clarity but in vain! Another issue comes out of this confusion is what is the Land use of those lands which are in the rural area/rural centers of NMRDA and located within 750 meter or 1000 meter from Gaothan boundary? UDCPR has not specified any new rules that allow residential use in Gaothan boundary. NMRDA authorities are seeking clarifications from experts/officials of Mantralaya in this regard. The Town Planning department of NMRDA is in fix and hesitant to issue Part Plan (Bhaag Nakasha), a document which is for land use certificate from developing authority, on which depends the market valuation (RR rates) of land and stamp duty to be paid to the Government