Category Archives: Policies

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

Chapter 06: Approach to Policy Formulation

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We visualise the approach to policy formulation, as we understand the concepts of cooperation planning and strategy, the importance of research, baseline and benchmarking, and are introduced to the concepts of working groups, consultations, documentation. This chapter is part of a series on Hierarchical Spatial Planning Framework

Governments primarily use spatial and land use plans and environmental and building code regulations to affect land use. These instruments function by restricting usage of land but cannot influence how individuals and businesses would like to use land. Many other policies or schemes and planning procedures, which are not causally related to land use planning systems, create incentives to use land in certain specific ways. It is not necessary that such policies correspond to the objectives of land use planning systems.

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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 07: Stakeholders and Actors – the Departments, their Roles and Mandates

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We understand the concept of stakeholders and actors and look at possible stakeholders at National and state levels with two examples. This chapter is part of a series on Hierarchical Spatial Planning Framework

Who are the right stakeholders and actors? Are they on board and do they support the project? Are they open to the concept and willing to adapt? How important are they? Do they share common objectives? Do they have the right mandate? Are there some who are the key driving force whereas others who play a secondary role? Are there any veto players? Are all actors only from government, or are they from private sector and civil societies also?

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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, Land Use Planning and Management, Multi-Sectoral, Policies

Chapter 08: Land Use Categorisation

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How many land use categories, sub-categories, classifications, definitions, can you think of? So many departments have their own definitions for different purposes. Let us try and bring it all together and learn the power of mind mapping tools in the process. This chapter is part of a series on Hierarchical Spatial Planning Framework

This chapter is specific to Indian scenario. Still, some sections might be relevant to other regions and countries as well.

The agriculture departments of various states in India have been maintaining land use statistics with a predominant focus on agriculture as a land use. These statistics have been maintained for long under a nine-fold classification as prescribed by Ministry of Agriculture, Government of India. Five of these nine categories are related to agriculture, one for forests, one for grazing & pasture lands, one for wasteland and one for all other non-agricultural land uses.

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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, Land Use Planning and Management, Multi-Sectoral, Policies, Sustainable Development

Chapter 09: Land Use Statistics

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What is the land utilisation pattern in India? Let us have a look and understand the sources of information for some key categories. This chapter is part of a series on Hierarchical Spatial Planning Framework

This chapter is specific to Indian scenario. Still, some sections might be relevant to other regions and countries as well.

Various ministries and departments at the National as well as the State Government maintain information on existing land use statistics for their own planning purposes. It is important to understand how these statistics look together at various levels of governance. Such a collation of land use statistics and envisaged/proposed plans is expected to give an interesting insight into the land use scenario for the state as well as the challenges ahead.

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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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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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