NCR Planning Board to Fast-Track NCZ Mapping Amid Aravali Concerns
Quick Look
- The NCR Planning Board is set to approve the NCR Regional Plan 2041, which fully restores the Natural Conservation Zone (NCZ).
- This necessitates rapid mapping of the NCZ, including assessing Aravali shrinkage, to identify and address violations across the region.
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Why It Matters
The NCR Regional Plan 2041 is set to be approved, fully restoring the Natural Conservation Zone (NCZ). This requires the NCR Planning Board to expedite the mapping of the NCZ, including assessing the shrinkage of the Aravali range, to identify and address violations.
With provision of the Natural Conservation Zone (NCZ) fully restored in the NCR Regional Plan 2041 — likely to be approved by NCR Planning Board on Tuesday — the board will need to fast-track mapping of the zone, including assessing shrinkage of Aravali across the region, to identify violations and direct states to take corrective action.
In April 2022, National Green Tribunal (NGT) had ordered the Board to complete mapping of NCZ. Experts working for protection of Aravali and NCZ in NCR said the Board should expedite the process to comply with the tribunal’s order.
While UP and Rajasthan have completed the delineation of NCZ after carrying out the ground truthing exercise, Haryana and Delhi are still in the process of finalising this.
While hearing a review petition on April 6, 2022, NGT ordered, “Considering the difficulty expressed by the review applicant (Planning Board), we modify the order of this tribunal dated April 5, 2021, and direct that instead of 1:50,000-scale maps, the exercise may now be carried out using high-resolution satellite data (spatial resolution better than 0.5 metres) compatible with cadastral maps.”
NGT had said satellite data with a resolution of one-metre or finer, covering two seasons during the years 2021–22 and 2022–23 may be used.
“In the first instance, available maps at 1:50,000 or 1:10,000 scale for the period 1999–2019 may be used to identify broad violations, including shrinkage of Aravalis. Needless to say, violations detected on 1:50,000 or 1:10,000-scale maps should not be ignored. Once violations have been identified, high-resolution maps, as indicated above, may be used to pinpoint the violators and initiate action in accordance with the law,” NGT had ordered
The Board meeting’s agenda mentions that Haryana govt had informed it in Oct 2020 that the state would finalise areas under NCZ and would intimate this to the Board. But at a planning committee meeting in March 2023, it informed the Board that work was still to be finalised for Haryana.
“NCZ delineation is still under finalisation by Govt of Haryana,” the agenda says.
In the case of Delhi, the agenda mentions, “NCZ delineation is still under finalisation by the Govt of NCT-Delhi.”
Open Questions
- When will Haryana and Delhi finalize NCZ delineation?
- What corrective actions will be taken against identified violations?
