Delhi Master Plan 2041

• 09 Sep 2020

Why in News

Recently, the Delhi Development Authority (DDA) has decided to hold public consultations for the preparation of the Master Plan for Delhi 2041, a vision document for Delhi's development over the next two decades.

• The DDA, in partnership with the National Institute of Urban Affairs (NIUA), is currently preparing the Master Plan for Delhi 2041.
• The existing Master Plan for Delhi, which lays down planning guidelines, policies, code of development, and space requirements for various socio-economic activities will come to end in 2021.

Key Points

• Features of 2041 Master Plan:
  
  • This Master Plan focuses on sustainability, inclusivity and equity.
  • It endeavours to be proactive and forward-looking in nature that accounts for current, emerging and anticipated drivers of urban development.
• Area of Focus:
  
  • A blue-green infrastructure, cycling infrastructure, walking circuits for pedestrians, and focus on unauthorised colonies to make it less dense.
  • There is also a plan to develop spaces for yoga, active sports, open air exhibitions, museums and information centres, and other low impact public uses.
  • The Master Plan will be able fulfill various provisions of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) like:
    
    • SDG 6- Clean water and sanitation.
    • SDG 11- Sustainable cities and communities.
    • SDG 14- Life below water.
    • SDG 15- Life on land.

Blue-Green Infra Policy

• It refers to urban planning where water bodies and land are interdependent, and grow with the help of each other while offering environmental and social benefits.
  
  • ‘Blue’ infrastructure refers to water bodies like rivers, canals, ponds, wetlands, floodplains, and water treatment facilities.
  • ‘Green’ stands for trees, lawns, hedgerows, parks, fields, and forests.

• Working:
  
  • Delhi has around 50 big drains (blue areas) but due to their poor condition and encroachment, the land around green areas has also been affected. In the recent past severe air pollution has also affected the city.
  • The master plan focuses on removal of all sources of pollution by checking the outfall of untreated wastewater as well as removal of existing pollutants.
    
    • As per report by the Central Pollution Control Board, Delhi generates 3,800 million litres of sewage per day and half of this goes directly into water bodies without being treated.
  • A mix of mechanised and natural systems may be adopted, and dumping of solid wastes in any of these sites will be strictly prohibited by local bodies, through the imposition of penalties.
• Issues Involved:
  
  • Lack of access to basic services of water and sanitation and other facilities.
  • Other issues included legality of some of the properties, narrow access roads, congestion, conflicts between commercial and residential uses, quality of drinking water and water logging.
  • Vulnerability and risks related to disasters such as fire, earthquakes, etc.
  • Lack of coordination between multiplicity of agencies like DDA, Delhi Jal Board, Flood and Irrigation Department, and various municipal corporations.

Way Forward

• The challenge of multiplicity of agencies needs to be dealt with by the government. This will increase coordination and cooperation among these agencies.
• There must be a strict adherence to plans for cleaning of water bodies and drains which has been a challenge for agencies in Delhi for years. Dumping of waste in the Yamuna river also needs to be strictly regulated.

Source: IE