HYDERABAD: To encourage the Land Pooling Scheme (LPS) and make it more attractive and beneficial for citizens, the Hyderabad Metropolitan Development Authority (HMDA) has framed new guidelines.
The draft guidelines have been sent to the state government for approval and will be introduced in the Assembly during the next session for making a legislation. After the passage of the bill in the Assembly, the planning body will go in a big way to implement LPS in HMDA limits, metropolitan commissioner T Chiranjeevulu said, pointing out that LPS could not make progress in the absence of guidelines.
LPS is beneficial to landowners as well as HMDA as it gives the owners an option to participate and become partners in development process and yet are not deprived of their land. If HMDA fails to complete the project in the given time, interest at 9 percent will be paid on behalf of the state government to the plot owners.
In the land pooling projects, land owners become partners in development. They contribute a portion of their land for the benefit of the entire project which will be developed by HMDA as it will provide common roads and amenities area. The owners will, in return, get greater utility and value for the remaining portion through better access, improved public facilities and infrastructure.
Two types of LPS have been proposed, one is the road development land pooling area (master plan/zonal development plan (ZDP) road network area development and the second is township development land pooling area (comprehensive area for development). As per the Metropolitan Development Plan (MDP)-2031, it is contemplated to prepare and develop the “urbanisable” areas through LPS.
Only after the approval by two-thirds (66 percent) of the beneficiaries will LPS be implemented and the selected site developed in a span of one year. Laying of of roads, power, water and sewer lines will be completed in three years. In case balanced land is required, HMDA will go in for land acquisition.
“To promote efficient, and equitable development of urban areas, LPS is a mechanism to pool land and pave the way for planned development of “urbanisable” areas as per the master plan,” Chiranjeevulu said, adding that the only problem lay in the registration of reconstructed plots which is too costly.
HMDA would request the state to give exemption from registration of reconstructed plots under LPS.Land of 50 acres and more with clear titles will be considered for LPS and endowment lands, Wakf lands and other controversial lands will not be considered under LPS.