The Haryana Department of Town and Country Planning (DTCP) has proposed a significant change in the state’s land-use regulations by replacing the existing system of listing permitted activities with one that specifies prohibited activities in different land-use zones.
The proposed amendment is intended to change how activities are regulated across residential, commercial, agricultural and other zones identified in development plans. Under the proposed framework, activities that are not specifically prohibited could be considered for approval, subject to compliance with other applicable statutory requirements.
DTCP has issued a public notice inviting objections and suggestions from residents, landowners and other stakeholders. The notice provides a period of 30 days for submissions.
Proposed Change to Development Plan Regulations
At present, Appendix A of development plans classifies different land uses, while Appendix B specifies the activities that are permitted in each zone. Under the proposed amendment, Appendix B would instead contain a list of prohibited activities.
DTCP has also proposed deleting Appendix A from the explanatory notes of published development plans.
A senior DTCP official said the proposed system is intended to make it easier for landowners to seek permission for activities that are not prohibited in a particular zone. However, activities would still have to comply with other statutory requirements and approvals applicable to the proposed development.
The change, if implemented, would affect development plans prepared under various state laws as well as plans administered by departments and metropolitan development authorities.
Gurugram, Faridabad Among Areas Covered
The proposed changes would apply across Haryana, including areas covered by development plans for Gurugram, Faridabad, Panchkula, Sonipat and Hisar.
The amendment could affect the way landowners, developers and businesses assess permissible activities on land parcels. Instead of referring only to a defined list of activities that can be undertaken, stakeholders would need to check whether a proposed activity is included in the list of prohibited uses and meet other planning and regulatory conditions.
The framework would continue to maintain restrictions for certain activities in specific zones.
For example, housing, industries and IT parks would remain prohibited in commercial zones under the draft provisions. In agricultural zones, prohibited activities would include commercial colonies and red-category industries.
Existing Restrictions to Continue
While the proposed framework changes the structure of the land-use regulations, it does not mean that all activities outside the prohibited list would automatically receive approval.
According to DTCP, statutory requirements would continue to apply. Landowners and developers would therefore still need to obtain permissions and clearances required under relevant planning, environmental, building and other regulations.
The distinction is that the proposed system would move from a positive list of permitted activities towards a negative list of prohibited activities. This would potentially provide a broader framework for considering activities that are not expressly barred, while retaining specific restrictions for uses considered incompatible with particular zones.
Stakeholders Invited to Submit Suggestions
DTCP has invited residents and stakeholders to submit objections and suggestions on the proposed amendments within 30 days of the public notice.
The consultation process will allow affected stakeholders to provide feedback before any changes are finalised. Landowners, developers, businesses and other parties involved in planning and development activities across Haryana can review the proposed provisions and submit their views through the prescribed process.
The proposed changes come as Haryana continues to see development activity across residential, commercial, industrial and other land-use categories. Changes to the regulatory framework could influence how future development proposals are assessed across the state’s major urban centres.
The final provisions will depend on the outcome of the consultation process and subsequent decisions by the state authorities. Until the proposed amendments are formally approved and notified, the existing land-use regulations will continue to govern development permissions.
