Monthly Archives: May 2020

Governance, Hierarchical Spatial Planning Framework, Land Use Planning and Management, Multi-Sectoral, Policies, Sustainable Development

Chapter 19: Institutional Mechanism, Implementation Framework and Timelines

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A policy can never be complete, if it does not provide for the institutional mechanism and implementation framework along with the timelines. Let us have a look at the new interventions, new mandate, what all structures we need to strengthen and where all planners are required. This chapter is part of a series on Hierarchical Spatial Planning Framework

A State spatial strategy gives impetus to economic growth through urbanization, industrialization as well as many aspects of agriculture and focussed irrigation investments while balancing the environment and social aspects. To facilitate the same, most states need to further strengthen and integrate spatial dimensions in the development process.

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Governance, Hierarchical Spatial Planning Framework, Integrated Industrial Areas, Land Use Planning and Management, Multi-Sectoral, Policies, Sustainable Development

Chapter 18: Framework for Settlement Level Land Use Plans

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We quickly go through the essence of various well evolved settlement level land use plans and find relevant links to related guidelines. We also focus a bit on the guidelines for transition and buffer zones. This chapter is part of a series on Hierarchical Spatial Planning Framework

The Town and Country Planning Acts of most states provide for preparation of Development Plans, Master Plans, Zonal Plans, Local Area Plans, Detailed Development Plans, Town Planning schemes, improvement schemes etc. prepared at a scale 1:10,000 or higher indicating precise boundaries of various land uses at local level. Such plans and improvement schemes which are statutory plans and can be enforced at local/plot level.

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Governance, Hierarchical Spatial Planning Framework, Housing, Integrated Industrial Areas, Land Use Planning and Management, Multi-Sectoral, Policies, Sustainable Development, Tourism

Chapter 17: Framework for Regional Spatial Strategy and Planning

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We investigate what a regional plan should have. What zones to create and what all to include in those zones. This chapter is part of a series on Hierarchical Spatial Planning Framework

Land use capacities have varied overtime with changing spatial environmental and economic conditions. This has necessitated identification of land use capacity for alternative choices of land allocation among various uses. It is increasingly necessary to delineate the problem areas, which need separate attention. Since supply of land is fixed, use of land for one purpose will be at the expense of other. When huge investments are made on land for one purpose it cannot/should not be reverted to other uses.

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Governance, Hierarchical Spatial Planning Framework, Land Use Planning and Management, Multi-Sectoral, Policies, Sustainable Development

Chapter 16: State Spatial Strategy

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We look at the evolution of state spatial strategies through the lens of the three pillars of sustainability i.e. environment, economy and society with two proposals/examples. We also get links to the details for of the two proposals. This chapter is part of a series on Hierarchical Spatial Planning Framework

For addressing the challenges and issues economic disparity, water constraints, or other sectoral conflicts and land use planning challenges as discussed earlier in Chapter 14, a state level spatial strategy can ensure that use of land is in general driven by its most economical and least environmental impact.

A state spatial strategy would ideally advocate assigning priority areas for economic development, no development as well as conservation and augmentation of water. This can improve economic competitiveness along with more equitable income distribution as compared to a scenario of continued water scarcity.

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Governance, Hierarchical Spatial Planning Framework, Land Use Planning and Management, Multi-Sectoral, Policies, Sustainable Development

Chapter 15: The Hierarchical Spatial Planning Framework

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Aha! The key essence of this series of articles. The objectives and introduction to proposed hierarchical spatial planning framework. And of course, links to details. This chapter is part of a series on Hierarchical Spatial Planning Framework

The key challenges as discussed in the previous chapter along with their spatial-temporal visualisation has enable us to understand the aim of a proposed policy. A proposed land use planning policy for a state in India should ideally aim to provide a strategic framework to spatial integration of environmental, economic, social development initiatives in the state. This framework should be addressable at all levels of governance, with a view to achieving sustainable growth, equitable access to resources and conflict-free land use management.

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Governance, Hierarchical Spatial Planning Framework, Land Use Planning and Management, Multi-Sectoral, Policies, Sustainable Development

Chapter 14: Spatial Representations of Key Challenges

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We are now well into the details for each sector. We have so much information on land use change and sectoral challenges. Let us spatially represent them and use the power of visualisation. We do this with two examples. This chapter is part of a series on Hierarchical Spatial Planning Framework

We have been working for the past 24 months now and undertaken an extensive study of our state. We have looked at the baseline scenario in terms of governance structure, department roles and their mandates, we have developed a good understanding of Land uses and its statistics for our state, we have also analysed the policies and strategies in detail.

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Governance, Hierarchical Spatial Planning Framework, Land Use Planning and Management, Multi-Sectoral, Policies, Sustainable Development

Chapter 13: Thematic Consultations

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After setting the working group let us prepare and undertake the thematic consultations. We also document and extract outputs and outcomes from them in terms of visions and land use interaction matrix with an example. This chapter is part of a series on Hierarchical Spatial Planning Framework

We are nearing completion of month 18 now. It has been three months since we are sensitising every stakeholder department on their role and ownership for the policy. Fortunately, they all agree and are on board. Hopefully, we also have a formal government notification circulated to at core as well as extended working group members.

In short, we have already set up the working group. First battle won.

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Governance, Hierarchical Spatial Planning Framework, Land Use Planning and Management, Multi-Sectoral, Policies, Sustainable Development

Chapter 12: Working Group – Why and How?

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This is where we bring all the departments together. We setup the working group and define the agenda for each theme. This chapter is part of a series on Hierarchical Spatial Planning Framework

Whoa… We have come a long way. We have spent close to 15 months to come so far.

We are now aware and in agreement with the need of Hierarchical Spatial and Land Use Planning (Click here). We also agree on the significance of a state land use planning policy (Click here and here). We have also seen the importance of Cooperation strategy and the approach that we can adopt for preparing such a policy. (Click here).

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Governance, Hierarchical Spatial Planning Framework, Land Use Planning and Management, Multi-Sectoral, Policies, Sustainable Development

Chapter 11: Department versus Land Use Theme Matrix

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Ever wondered? Which department has what control and relationship with each land use category? Let us have a look. This chapter is part of a series on Hierarchical Spatial Planning Framework

The presence of a complex governance system with multiple sectoral departments and the complex substructure of each indicates that different departments have different mandates functions and powers as far as land use and utilisation is concerned. Whereas some department may have powers and functions covering financial, planning, influencing land use outcomes, other departments may only be affected by decisions of other departments. Furthermore, the powers and functions vested with a department or the lack thereof, may or may not be restricted to a certain category of land use. Hence, it is important to evaluate the roles of various department’s vis. – a – vis. each category of land use.

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Governance, Hierarchical Spatial Planning Framework, Housing, Integrated Industrial Areas, Land Use Planning and Management, Multi-Sectoral, Policies, Public Private Partnerships, Sustainable Development, Tourism

Chapter 10: Sectoral Policies and the Land Acquisition Process

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Ever wondered what various sectoral policies point to? Indian states have such a complex governance system and so many policies, let us look at a select few for two states in India (one highly urbanised and the other being one of the least urbanised). We will also understand the steps if somebody wants to have access to land to setup a project. There are links to policy details. Some may find it boring. Some may be extremely interested. Mind it. This chapter is part of a series on Hierarchical Spatial Planning Framework

The presence of complex governance systems with multiple sectoral departments means that each departments is in-charge of various development measures. It is highly likely that each department has specific policies or other forms of guiding documents for planning interventions. Some of these policies/guiding documents are expected to directly have an impact on land use, whereas some of them would result in planning processes that affect eventual land use (indirect impact on land use). As most of the departments have such policies in force and decisions are made abiding by these documents, it is important to understand and consider them during the formulation of the land use planning policy for any state or country.

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