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Maharashtra River Survey: Flood Lines to Be Redrawn
18 Feb
Summary
- A 12-member committee will resurvey Maharashtra's river flood lines.
- The committee will review development regulations for properties in flood zones.
- Aims to resolve redevelopment hurdles for properties built before 2009.
The Maharashtra state government has established a 12-member committee to conduct a comprehensive re-survey of river flood lines throughout the state, including Pune and Pimpri Chinchwad. This committee is tasked with reviewing current norms and suggesting amendments to the Unified Development Control and Promotion Regulations (UDCPR). The primary objective is to allow the utilization of transfer of development rights (TDR) for properties situated within flood lines, particularly those built before the irrigation department's 2009 demarcation.
A significant number of properties, especially in Pimpri Chinchwad, were constructed prior to the 2009 demarcation. While these structures are legal, redevelopment has been stalled because developers cannot utilize TDR under existing rules. The newly formed panel includes officials from town planning, environment, irrigation, and relief and rehabilitation departments, alongside municipal commissioners from Pimpri Chinchwad, Kolhapur, and Chandrapur, where the issue is most pronounced.
This decision offers relief to citizens facing delays in building permissions and redevelopment projects. Environmental activists, however, caution against increased TDR or FSI for properties within flood lines due to climate change concerns, advocating instead for relocation and rehabilitation plans. The committee has been given two months to submit its report.
