To regulate the construction activities in the states capital city, Himachal Pradesh Government on Friday notified the draft Shimla Development Plan including new provisions with regard to the number of floors, habitable attic, and garage in a building.
Notably, the State Cabinet had on Monday approved the final draft presented by the Urban Development Department. The plan was approved by the previous government in February 2022, but it did not materialize as the (NGT) stayed it, terming it illegal and in conflict with orders passed in 2017 to regulate haphazard construction in Shimla.
The draft was approved again after the Supreme Courts order on the matter on May 3. The Apex Court, however, said that the draft plan would not be implemented for a month from the date of publication of the notification, issued on June 20.
The plan, named Vision 2041, when implemented, would pave the way for construction in 17 green belts with certain restrictions and also in the core area where construction activity was banned by the NGT.
A total of 22,450 hectares were taken into account for revision and formulation of the development plan, which included the Municipal Corporation of Shimla, special area development authorities of Kufri, Shoghi, and Ghanahatti and additional Shimla planning area besides villages.