Blurred lines in Planning Legislations for Regional Planning in India

Abstract

In an era of rapid urbanisation, comprehensive regional development, rather than a focus on a single urban area, is critical for meeting future needs. However, most states lack clarity in their Town and Country Planning legislation about the scope of regional planning and the power of regional planning authorities. This reflects a condition of uncertainty among the state's various planning authorities about their jurisdiction and responsibilities. The paper aims to compare the Karnataka TCP Act, 1961, to the TCP Acts of other states. It begins with a brief overview of the evolution of TCP Acts in India, followed by a comparison of the provisions of various state acts to know the distinction between them. The paper critiques the governance system established by the Karnataka TCP Act, 1961, based on its limited implementation. This also pertains to the act's departure from what it envisions for power decentralisation under the 74th Constitutional Amendment Act of 1992. The paper concludes by noting the fallacy and potential solutions in the act based on the best practices.