Residential area doubles on 50% cut to agriculture land as per new DP

NASHIK: The revised draft Development Plan (DP) has proposed double the current residential area considering the population growth in the next 20 years but envisages almost 50% reduction in the agriculture land in the city. In addition, a separate future urbanizable zone has been proposed.
The draft DP revised by the joint director (Nashik division) of the state town planning department was published on Saturday inviting suggestions and objections.Citizens can send their comments on the draft DP in the next 60 days.
As per 2011 census, the city’s population was 14.85 lakh and it is nearly 18 lakh now. The draft DP estimated the population to increase to 34 lakh by 2036. Considering the rise in population, the reservation for residential areas has doubled from the present 5,875.36 hectare to 12,835.78 hectare, about 48% of the total municipal corporation area.
On the contrary, the area under agricultural use has declined by 50% from 8,961.49 hectare to 4, 542.59 hectare, which is 16.98% of the total area of the municipal corporation.
Apart from the area reserved for residential purposes, a new category of future urbanizable zone has been proposed on 442.19 hectare on the outskirts of the city. Nearly half of the zone (283.15 ha) has been proposed in Pathardi area and the remaining 159.04 ha has been proposed in Makhmalabad. It has been proposed adjacent to a residential zone.
In this zone, all uses permissible in residential zone may be allowed subject to fulfillment of some conditions. For extending offsite infrastructure like road, water supply, sewage, electricity to the land, the expenses shall be borne by the owner and deposited with the municipal corporation. The owner will have the liberty to construct such infrastructure at his own.