To expedite the process of development and protect the interest of landowners, the Transfer of Development Rights (TDR) policy would be adopted for land acquisition in Mullanpur, envisioned as Punjab’s first ‘eco-town’.

The final master plan of Mullanpur, approved by the state government recently, has recommended this scheme. Already implemented in Maharashtra, this is the first instance in which the scheme will be introduced in Punjab.

Under this scheme, if landowners transfer the land earmarked for roads, parks, green belts or any public purpose to the concerned Urban Development Authority, they would be entitled to an additional Floor Area Ratio (FAR) of 1:1.

Besides, no charges for Change of Land Use (CLU), External Development Charges (EDC), licence and permission fees would be levied on the FAR.

Further, the landowners, according to their own choice, can sell the benefit in total or parts to any other person.

With this, the farmers/landowners would have a third option in addition to the cash compensation and land pooling scheme already prevalent in the state to acquire land.

To generate the value of TDR in the market, the present practice provided in the state government’s notification dated September 19, 2007, for additional FAR on additional payment, would stop immediately in the area under the Greater Mohali Area Development Authority (GMADA) jurisdiction.

The master plan suggested GMADA to come out with detailed guidelines on operation of TDRs. The scheme further provided that mega/super mega projects in which more than 1.75 FAR for commercial or more than 2.0 FAR for Group Housing is permissible or have been allowed would also have to purchase additional FAR from landowners. This FAR would be purchased from within the same Local Planning Area in which it is to be used.

... contd.