Green development key for clean Delhi: Experts

New Delhi: The National Capital is under review for its fourth master plan with Delhi Development Authority (DDA) proposing to incorporate the Green Development Area Policy (GDAP) within the blueprint.

Taking forward the consultative process for Delhi's Master Plan- 2021-41, realty apex body Naredco, in collaboration with National Institute of Urban Affairs (NIUA), Delhi Dehat Vikas Manch, on Tuesday conducted a workshop to discuss DDA's GDPA at length and invite suggestions from different stakeholders including real estate experts, architects and DDA bureaucrats.

Hitesh Vaidya, Director, National Institute of Urban Affairs (NIUA), while speaking at the seminar, said, "The Master Plan has to be an implementable, strategic plan. While the GDAP or Land Policy they are good initiatives by DDA, the challenge is bringing policy to practice. The biggest challenge is to strength the governance system cities have be strengthened, who really own this policy and who implements them." NIUA, a thinktank, was roped in by the DDA for Master Plan 2021-41 to brainstorm the trajectory to revamp Delhi. According to Vaidya the aspect of sustainability should be defined locally and contextually, and for which the NIUA can be utilized.

The GDAP draft received approval from DDA, chaired by Delhi Lt Governor Anil Baijal, and has been introduced under section 11-A of Delhi Development Act. According to the draft, the policy provides a comprehensive framework for defining minimum land area required for green development and ensuring seamless development of infrastructure with sustainability. In the policy, the minimum land area required for green development, i.e. for Grade 1 category, the minimum plot area required is 600 sqm, for Grade 2 it is 4,000 sqm and 10,000 sqm for Grade 3.

The FAR (floor area ratio) have also been prescribed depending on proposed grade of development ranging from five in case of Grade 1, 20 for Grade 2 and a FAR of 60 for Grade 3. Niranajan Hiranandani, President, Naredco, spoke at the inaugural of the workshop, expressing concern on the deteriorating environmental situation in the capital and emphasized on the sustainable living as the need of the hour. "We are aware the kind of pollution Delhi sees because of what has happened in the past couple of years through agriculture and vehicle, we are in a sorry situation where the capital of India goes through such pollution norms. I think the idea of GDAP in itself is a positive thought process," Hiranandani said.

"I am sure this Green Development Policy will go a long way to reverse the (environmental) threat that has taken place. We are to suggest definitely on what should be the agricultural policy and the technology inputs that are required in order to stop the pollution," he added.