In a dramatic decision, the state government promulgated an ordinance two days ago to remove any time limit for stateappointed town planning officers to come out with preliminary and finally approved town planning schemes for cities across Gujarat. The time limit was set by the state urban development department so that TP schemes are executed in a timely manner by municipal corporations and with clarity. Now with the time limit removed, several urban development department officers feel TP schemes may be delayed.
Initially, when a municipal corporation sent its draft TP scheme to the state government for approval, the state urban development department appointed a Town Planning Officer (TPO) to cross-check and invite objec tions and suggestions from the public. The TPO sub divides the scheme into “prelimnary“ and then few months later declares the “final“ TP scheme. The time limit was set at 12 months, which could be extended to 18 months by Section 51 of the Gujarat Town Planning Act. “This provision of GTP Act has been removed by the October 4 ordinance. It has also received the governor’s ratification,“ says a senior official of the state urban development department.
