NCR plan keeps Aravali safeguards after long debate

As reported by The Times of India, as per the agenda circulated for the NCR Planning Board (NCRPB) meeting scheduled to be held on June 16, the Regional Plan 2041 for the National Capital Region (NCR) has been set to preserve the ‘Natural Conservation Zone’ (NCZ), an important regulatory safeguard for the protection of the Aravali ecosystem and other environmentally sensitive areas.

The decision came after nearly five years of deliberations, including proposals to replace Haryana’s NCZ classification with the broader “Natural Zone” and replace references to Aravali with the general term “hills”. However, the agenda circulating for the revised plan states that the Protected Area framework under RP-2021 will continue in RP-2041.

The agenda also states that all existing laws, rules, notifications and judicial orders issued by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC), central ministries and courts will continue to be applicable to NCZ areas across NCR components.

Under the existing framework, NCZ areas include environmentally sensitive areas such as the Aravali ridge stretch, forests, rivers, tributaries, lakes and other water bodies. The regulations impose strict restrictions on non-forest activities and allow only limited development (up to 0.5% of the regional recreational area) subject to central approval.

The proposal to dilute the NCZ provisions in the earlier draft District Plan 2041 (published in December 2021) had faced significant opposition, with the majority of more than 4,500 objections and suggestions received against the change. Later, instructions from the Prime Minister’s Office and a Group of Ministers led by Union Home Minister Amit Shah asked the housing and urban affairs ministry to maintain the NCZ framework.

While the NCZ provision is retained, the agenda emphasizes that states will be responsible for determining and delineating the extent of natural features under the zone using basic verification and revenue records. This has raised concerns among experts who point to delays in satellite-based mapping and land use classification.
The agenda also explores the use of non-fiscal incentives, including Special Development Rights and Transferable Development Rights (TDR), to encourage conservation efforts by landowners in NCZ areas. In line with this, the draft plan envisages the population of NCR to increase from 7.87 crore in 2021 to 10.86 crore in 2031 and 14.73 crore in 2041; Delhi’s share in the regional population is expected to decrease in 2021. period.

On infrastructure, the plan proposes fast-tracking key Regional Rapid Transit System (RRTS) corridors, including the Ghaziabad-Noida International Airport (Jewar), Gurugram-Faridabad-Noida-Greater Noida and Delhi-Surajpur routes, along with the proposed Orbital Rail Corridors that aim to improve regional connectivity by 2030.