The Hindu 06.12.2010
Awareness programme on master plan proposed
| Master plan would be notified in a fortnight |
11 panchayats and 5 municipalities are also in master plan
Draft proposals put on website of the Chief Town planner
KOCHI: With the draft master plan for Kochi region to be notified shortly, the Kochi Corporation is planning to undertake an awareness campaign on the document.
Widespread awareness needs to be created on the proposals as they are going to decide the development course of Kochi and adjoining civic bodies for the next two decades, said K. J. Sohan, chairman of the Town Planning Standing Committee of the Kochi Corporation.
As the master plan will decide on the future course of development of the Kochi region, the Town Planning Standing committee hopes to lay emphasis on the creation of awareness and finalising the views of the civic body on the issue. Discussions at various levels need to be organised for eliciting the views of the general public and experts, he said.
Besides Kochi, 11 panchayats and five municipalities are covered by the master plan. The office of the Chief Town Planner is expected to notify it within a fortnight and a specific period would be allowed for the stakeholders to file their views and complaints regarding the proposals. Once the plan document is finalised, it will not be an easy task to revise. Hence, learned views, which should be consolidated after going through the details, have to be submitted within the stipulated time, he said.
Each of the civic bodies will have to deliberate on the proposals and submit its views to the authorities separately. Kochi Corporation will also have to shape up its views and detailed discussions will have to be held for the purpose. There is also the need for creating awareness among the elected representatives of the stakeholder civic bodies. Face-to-face sessions should be organised by involving the officials from the office of the Chief Town Planner and civic representatives, Mr. Sohan said.
The draft proposals have been posted on the website of the Chief Town Planner. It would soon be uploaded to the website of the Kochi Corporation so that people can submit their views online. There is also the need for change in perceptions about development. Kochi city-centric development patterns are not going to work anymore. Development projects should go to the city suburbs and outskirts, he pointed out.
