In October this year, the Honorable Supreme Court of India asked the Uttarakhand Government why there’s no master plan for Haridwar for the last ten years.

The person instrumental in bringing the matter to SC’s notice is the Haridwar resident Upendra Dutt Sharma.

Upendra Dutt Sharma, sufficiently disappointed by complete mess in the city due to lack of proper planning, influx of new vehicles and increased population in the pilgrim town, filed a petition in the Supreme Court of India questioning – “why his city is not getting any Master Plan after the last one lapsed in 2001?”.

Responding to his petition, the Honorable Supreme Court of India bench headed by Justice Dalveer Bhandari issued notice to the Uttarakhand government and other authorities seeking their response on why they have not framed a new Master Plan for the city after the last one lapsed about a decade ago (Master Plan 1985 to 2001). Notably, the previous master plan of the city got two extensions first up to now, one in 2007 and other after that.

The Supreme Court has sought the response of Uttarakhand government on framing comprehensive rules for development of basic infrastructure in Haridwar in view of alleged lack of planning.
Abiding to the SC orders, the much-awaited master plan for Haridwar has been approved, and in the coming years, the city will get a major facelift; something which will be in conformity with the world’s renowned religious-spiritual-tourist tag attached to Haridwar.

Haridwar Master Plan 2011:

The new Haridwar Master Plan 2011 has been proposed keeping in mind the 2025 requirements of the city, taking into account various parameters. With the master plan coming into effect, the development of the city will be done in a planned manner, informed Haridwar Development Board(HDA) vice-chairperson Chandra Sekhar Bhatt.

Under the new master plan 2011, regularisation of irregular colonies and compounding of commercial establishments being operated in areas coming under residential zones will also be carried out. In addition, action will also be taken against the illegal constructions that had mushroomed in the city of Haridwar in the past few years.

That part, the new Haridwar master plan 2011, will also clear the way for the regularization of dozens of illegal colonies. Simultaneously, those old residential colonies which had been categorized commercial in this plan would also be paying fees in case they wanted to commercialize them. According to Bhatt, this will result in manifold increase in the revenue of the HAD (Haridwar Development Authority).

Other key features of the Haridwar Master Plan 2011, will be the creation of separate land bank for expansion and regularization, which would come in handy when public schemes, projects or for other such purposes land is required. Educational, commercial and residential areas will be earmarked separately, paving the way for an organised, legal development of the city.

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A new master plan for Haridwar is good; but one should take into account some of the factors; so that in situation of any faulty implementation, you as an aware citizen of the state and the city can raise your voice.

Before looking at the new Haridwar Master Plan 2011, as a proposal encompassing every thing good for the city and its citizens, one should understand why there was no mater plan for the city for the past ten years.

And the reason has more to do with corruption; than mere legislative or administrative laziness.

As already been said, many illegal colonies and industries have mushroomed in the city in the past ten years. many encroaching structures have cropped up in the city as well. The HDA or the Government remained a mere spectator of these illegal constructions for some reason.

Many of these illegal colonies and constructions will now be regularized  for kickbacks (An illegal, secret payment made in return for a referral which resulted in a transaction or contract. Money taken as Bribe or for some favor). Both ministers and executive can be assumed to be privy to this under the table money exchange.

As a responsible citizen, all you have to do, is to see how this master plan is implemented in the city.
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