Chandigarh – Haryana’s Town and Country Planning Department is preparing a major overhaul of the state’s land‑use regulations. The draft proposal abandons the traditional "positive list" of permitted activities and adopts a "negative list" model that only records what cannot be done in each zone.
Understanding the ‘Negative List’ Model
Under this system, any use that does not appear on the prohibition list is considered acceptable, provided it adheres to existing planning policies, zoning standards and other statutory requirements.
Changing the Development‑Plan Structure
The department plans to retire Appendix‑A from the explanatory notes of current development plans and introduce a new Appendix‑B that codifies the negative‑list approach. The goal is to streamline the land‑use matrix and give developers a clear picture of what is off‑limits in each zone while still obliging them to meet all relevant regulations.
Restrictions in Residential Zones
The draft keeps a tight lid on several high‑impact activities in residential areas, such as:
- Industrial units and large‑scale warehouses
- IT parks, cyber parks and data‑centres
- Logistics parks and wholesale operations
- Transport hubs like bus terminals and transport nagars
- Dairy and poultry farms, mining, stone‑crushing and other hazardous enterprises
These bans aim to protect neighbourhoods from heavy traffic, pollution and industrial hazards.
Limits in Commercial Zones
Commercial districts will face a distinct set of prohibitions, including:
- 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 intention 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 operations. Similarly, transport and communication zones will 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 authorises the department’s director to impose extra prohibitions in the public interest. Conversely, the government retains the power to relax any of the listed restrictions where law permits.
Public Consultation
A 30‑day window has been opened for citizens, developers, landowners and other stakeholders to lodge objections or suggestions. All feedback will be examined before the final rule‑book is approved.
If implemented, the Negative List model will shift Haryana’s land‑use paradigm from exhaustive permission lists to a clearer focus on what is expressly disallowed.
