Chandigarh – The Haryana administration is preparing to overhaul its land‑use regulations for urban and development zones. The new draft flips the traditional method on its head: it will enumerate only the activities that are expressly forbidden, leaving everything else permissible under existing planning rules.
Understanding the ‘Negative List’ Approach
Under this model, any use not mentioned in the restriction list is automatically considered acceptable, provided it conforms to current zoning statutes, master‑plan guidelines and other statutory provisions.
Updating the Development‑Plan Structure
The Department of Town and Country Planning plans to withdraw Appendix‑A from the explanatory notes of the present development plans and introduce a new Appendix‑B that codifies the negative‑list mechanism.
The objective is to streamline the land‑use matrix, offering clear signage on what cannot be undertaken in each zone while still obliging developers to satisfy all relevant regulations.
Restrictions in Residential Zones
The proposal retains strict bans on several high‑impact activities within residential areas, such as:
- Industrial units and large‑scale warehouses
- IT parks, cyber parks and data‑centres
- Logistics parks and wholesale operations
- Transport hubs like bus terminals and transport nagars
- Dairy, poultry farms, mining, stone‑crushing and other hazardous enterprises
These prohibitions aim to protect neighbourhoods from heavy traffic, pollution and industrial risks.
Limits in Commercial Districts
Commercial zones will be subject to a distinct set of bans, including:
- Industrial colonies and large logistics parks
- Waste‑water and sewage‑treatment facilities
- IT parks and data‑centres
- Tanneries, mining operations and dairy‑related activities
The intent is to preserve the commercial character of these areas while keeping incompatible uses at bay.
Industrial and Transport/Communication Zones
In designated industrial zones, the draft bars residential and commercial colonies, educational institutions, as well as any agricultural or dairy ventures.
Transport and communication zones will similarly exclude residential and commercial colonies and will also restrict Red‑Category industries and IT parks.
Public‑Utility, Open and Agricultural Areas
Public‑utility zones would prohibit hotels, commercial establishments, schools, industries and warehouses.
Open areas are envisioned for parks, green belts and sports facilities, with other land‑uses restricted.
Agricultural zones would disallow residential and commercial colonies as well as Red‑Category industrial activities.
Special Powers for Additional Restrictions
The draft empowers the department’s director to impose extra prohibitions in the public interest. Conversely, the government retains the authority to relax any of the listed bans where the law permits.
Public Consultation Process
The Town and Country Planning Department has opened a 30‑day period for citizens, developers, landowners and other stakeholders to lodge objections or suggestions. All feedback will be examined before the final rule‑book is sealed.
If enacted, the Negative List model will pivot Haryana’s land‑use policy from exhaustive permission lists to a clearer focus on what is expressly disallowed.
