Chandigarh – Haryana’s government is poised to revamp the way land‑use is regulated across its urban and development zones. The draft proposal turns the conventional model on its head: instead of listing every activity that is allowed, it will publish a concise roster of uses that are expressly forbidden.
Understanding the ‘Negative List’ Approach
Under this system, any activity that does not appear on the prohibition list is automatically considered permissible, provided it adheres to existing planning policies, zoning regulations and other statutory requirements.
Overhauling the Development‑Plan Structure
The Department of Town and Country Planning plans to retire Appendix‑A from the explanatory notes of the current development plans and replace it with a new Appendix‑B that codifies the negative‑list methodology.
The objective is to simplify the land‑use matrix, offering clear guidance on what cannot be done in each zone while still obligating developers to meet all relevant standards.
Restrictions in Residential Zones
The draft keeps a tight grip on several high‑impact activities in residential areas, including:
- Industrial units and large‑scale warehouses
- IT parks, cyber parks and data‑centres
- Logistics parks and wholesale operations
- Transport hubs such as bus terminals and transport nagars
- Dairy and poultry farms, mining, stone‑crushing and other hazardous enterprises
These prohibitions aim to protect neighbourhoods from heavy traffic, pollution and industrial hazards.
Limits for Commercial Districts
Commercial zones will be subject to a distinct set of bans, notably:
- Industrial colonies and large logistics parks
- Waste‑water and sewage treatment plants
- IT parks and data‑centres
- Tanneries, mining operations and dairy‑related activities
The goal is to preserve the commercial character of these areas while keeping incompatible uses at bay.
Industrial and Transport/Communication Zones
In industrial zones, the proposal bars residential and commercial colonies, educational institutions and any agricultural or dairy undertakings.
Transport and communication zones will similarly exclude residential and commercial colonies, and will also restrict Red‑Category industries and IT parks.
Public‑Utility, Open and Agricultural Areas
Public‑utility zones would prohibit hotels, commercial establishments, schools, industries and warehouses.
Open areas are envisioned for parks, green belts and sports facilities, with other land‑uses restricted.
Agricultural zones would disallow residential and commercial colonies as well as Red‑Category industrial activities.
Special Powers for Additional Restrictions
The draft empowers the department’s director to impose extra prohibitions in the public interest, while the state retains the ability to relax any of the listed restrictions where the law permits.
Public Consultation Process
The Town and Country Planning Department has opened a 30‑day window for citizens, developers, landowners and other stakeholders to lodge objections or suggestions. All feedback will be examined before the final rule‑book is ratified.
If adopted, the Negative List model will shift Haryana’s land‑use paradigm from exhaustive permission lists to a clearer focus on what is explicitly disallowed.
