Date:04/12/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/12/04/stories/2008120460240500.htm

Andhra Pradesh - Hyderabad

State brings out draft policy on integrated townships

Special Correspondent

To be developed on public-private partnership mode

Three models to compensate land losers
One-third of townships for
work centres

HYDERABAD: Uncertainty in real estate market notwithstanding, the government has come out with a draft policy for developing integrated townships on a public-private partnership mode. Highlights include attractive compensation packages for land owners and 40 per cent area of the prospective township reserved for the poor and middle income groups.

The proposed ‘self-contained’ townships with the status of an urban body would have workplaces and residences for ‘planned decentralisation’ to give a fillip to development of small and medium towns. Land for such townships should be a minimum 200 acres for Hyderabad, Vijayawada and Visakhapatnam regions, 100 acres for Tirupati, Warangal, Puttaparthi, etc., and 75 acres for other municipalities.

Building rules

Common building rules would be applicable for the townships and among incentives being offered to developers are – exemption from land ceiling laws, 50 per cent waiver for land use conversion, non-farm charges and development charges along with special rebates in property tax payment.

To compensate land losers, the government has proposed three models – cash based on basic market value and a plot of 12.5 per cent of developed land; 50 per cent of developed land and cash of Rs. 5 lakh plus a percentage of the built up space in townships.

One-third of the townships should be utilised for work centres like offices and recreation-based activities and the rest for housing. Roads, sewerage and water facilities should be built and maintained by the developer even after completion. While the developer is free to build any kind of housing i.e. apartments, individual housing, row houses and so on, it has to be integrated with the statutory Master Plan and Zonal Development Plan.

And, 10 per cent of the prime location in each township has to be given free to the sanctioning authority for disposal and another 10 per cent land should be mortgaged as surety to the sanctioning authority.

These ‘A.P. Rules for Promotion & Development of Integrated Townships in Private Sector 2006’ was placed before a group of builders and others for discussion by top mandarins of the Municipal Administration and Urban Development Department like C.V.S.K. Sarma (Principal Secretary), S.P. Singh (GHMC Commissioner), K. Jawahar Reddy (HMDA Commissioner) among others.