Regional

planning in
India.
PLANNING EFFORTS IN INDIA SINCE
INDEPENDANCE

ADITYA A. PUNAGAVKAR. (09AR6017)

Regional planning in India.

INDEX

CONTENTS
PAGE NO
_______________________________________________________

1 Introduction to region. 3

2 Planning regions - basic postulates. 3

3 Hierarchy of planning regions. 3

4 Regional development planning in india. 6

5 Urban scenario. 7

6 Urban and regional planning since independence of india 8

7 Post-Independence Period. 8

8 Planning Legislation. 9

9 Status of Regional Development Planning in India. 10

10 Efforts for Regional Development Planning in India. 10

11 Conclusion. 14

12 Prospects. 14

13 Bibliography. 15

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Regional planning in India.

REGIONAL PLANNING IN INDIA

ADITYA A. PUNGAVKAR
DEPARTMENT OF ARCHITECTURE AND REGIONAL PLANNING
INDIAN INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY KHARAGPUR

Abstract

The regional development problems are not only multifaceted, they are complex and multi-
dimensional in nature. No single discipline alone could tackle such intricate problems and
need an interdisciplinary approach to analyze them, formulate development policies and
programme and prepare rational plans and projects. The development problems vary from
place to place, region to region and occur in space with varying degree of intensity and
complexity. The problems necessarily could be effectively tackled by spatial planning process.
The regional scientists are engaged in developing tools and techniques of analysis while
regional planners based on such analysis formulate policies, put forward strategies and find
desirable solution not only to tackle the present-day problems but also develop mechanism.

Introduction

In developing economies like India, the issue of social equity has become the need of the day
This needs emphasis on regional approach to developmental planning as against a micro-
economic sectoral approach, because regional planning in its true perspective, tends to be
much more responsive to the emerging socio-economic problems at various territorial levels.
Basically, regional planning is spatial development planning, which tends to utilize the natural
and human resources to the fullest-extent for the enrichment of the quality of life of its
population and to distribute the gains of development among the regions and groups within the
regions, thereby minimizing socio-economic imbalances and improving living conditions of the
masses.

Regional planning fits Into this general classification but differs from other forms of planning in
that it is specifically concerned with the regional level, This level lies somewhere between the
national and local levels, and the region Is a continuous and localized area at this level.
similar to other types of planning in that it possesses the some basic features and may be a
combination of the variety of alternative forms already outlined. But it is also distinct from
other types of planning In that It Is Planning for a region, in general terms, o region is a flexible
concept, referring to a continuous and localized area Intermediate between national and urban
levels. As such regional planning can be seen as fitting into a continuum of planning regional
planning Is the process of formulating and clarifying social objectives.

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Regional planning in India.

Region

A formal region Is a geographical area which is uniform or homogeneous in terms of selected

criteria, A functional region Is a geographical area which displays '-a certain functional
coherence, an Inter-dependence of parts.

Ebeneizer Howard was one of the early pioneers of the concept of the nodal region He
suggested that the solution to the problems of a large urban area such as London In developing
a cluster of new towns linked to the central city In a functional relationship. Patrick Gedd'es also
stressed the inter-dependence and Inter-relationships of factors In a region, using him famous
'place-work-folk' diagram. It was Geddes also who coined the term city region' which has come
to be the most widely used form of nodal region.

Planning regions - basic postulates

Regions for planning are in the nature of subnatlonal areas’ and they are to be used for the
purpose of translating the national planning objectives and targets into regional (spatial)
programmes and policies. Therefore, in the first instance, planning region must be adequate to
achieve the plan objectives which essentially seek maximization of benefits-arising from the
utilization of resources to achieve a minimum acceptable standard of living. To ensure this. It
will be necessary to consider for each planning region the nature of resource endowments of
the area, the present level of economic, social and physical development and the potentials of
future development. In other words, o planning region should inherently possess on assured

economic and social viability, developed or developable derived from the resources within the
region. A planning region' must be a viable economic entity; Economic viability may be
expressed in terms of self-sufficiency of existing and potential resources to reach a desired level
of development. The degree of economic viability may vary, depending upon the level at self-
sufficiency aimed at Two major criteria defining this ore 'production' and 'employment' At the
highest level, the region must be capable of engendering activities that would assure near-full
employment and production of agricultural and non-agricultural commodities which enables it to
meet the requirements of food and other manufactured and consumer goods at a level laid
down by the national plan. Production of all consumer goods may not be achieved, but there
should be enough to make exchanges possible.

Self-sufficiency

Self-sufficiency is mainly quantitative and not qualitative; quality is dependent upon the resource
endowments of each area which will induce a process of flow and exchange of goods ond
services.

In addition to economic viability, a planning region must aim at a natural balance amongst
the resources and their exploitation. This natural balance or 'ecological balance' as we may
call It, assures a stability of a different type and lasting character. The fauna and flora of natural
region are : always balanced and help to complete to the natural cycle, where the natural cycle
is not completed or obstructed, these are bound to result In ravines, dust bowls, ; depletion
of soils, desiccation and so on. To complete the natural cycle, a region must not only mountains
but also plains, not only barren land but also rich vegetation and so Iong. The degree of

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Regional planning in India.

ecological balance that can be attained will be dependent on the diversity of the resources that
would be possible. Having explained the requirements for planning regions in broad terms, the
specific criteria that should be looked for in delimiting a region may be laid down as follows:

1) The planning region must be large enough to contain a range of resources, conditions
and attitudes that would help to establish the desired degree of economic viability but at the
same time, not too large as to make a comprehensive approach too general.

2) It should have adequate resources of diverse origin to enable a production pattern to be

developed, both for consumption and for ex-change.

3) There should exist an organization In terms of nodal points, either developed or developable
to satisfy the organizational needs to the region
as a total entity.

4) Planning is a mechanism for dealing with resource development problems. Therefore, the
ideal regions for planning purposes will be those In which an area-wise approach to these
problems is both feasible and desirable.

5) Planning .deals with anticipating the future and an area with common potentialities and
probabilities of development would be logical for planning purposes.

6) Since planning requires the development of Insight consequences of various alternatives,

a contiguous, cohesive area, within which various alternatives can be projected and analyzed,
has Importance. Such' Internal cohesion may be the result of homogeneity of resource or their
linkages through complementarily and intra-areal activity or "flows.

7) As the ultimate objective of planning is to facilitate the making of rational decision, an area
where some degree of social unity exists is desirable, so that the public can identify this
problems and accept responsibility for meeting thorn.

8) The planning regions cannot completely ignore the basic administrative units.
They are. In fact, derived by grouping the smallest administrative unite in right combinations.
The advantages keeping the smallest administrative unit Intact lies in the availability of data
by such' units and the existence of a system of administrative communication which provides
for mutual feed -backs and appraisal of results for the guidance of future problem-solving
techniques.

9) Planning regions are essentially operational- in character and therefore a high degree of
flexibility and elasticity is called for in their conception as well as their delimitation.

Hierarchy of planning regions

Thus, depending on the geographical scope within which various developmental programmes
could be effectively organized and dealt with, It is possible to visualize throe major area levels of
operation, viz., macro, meso and micro. On this basis it would be possible to derive planning

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Regional planning in India.

region .of various taxonomic ranks by grouping areas according to the purpose of and scale of
development.

Macro-regions

Macro-regions should not only represent areas where Inter-related solutions to many problems
are especially necessary, but should also have within their, confines a complete matrix of all
essential resources for Integrated development. Among these resources, power resources are
one of the most Important, as they play vital role In determining the major lines of economic
development and In bringing about a dispersion of economic activity which Is very necessary for
achieving balanced regional development, It has* therefore, been sought that
each macro-region should have one or more existing or potential Industrial nucleus may
also be an apex centre for the region, which will have Its linkages In a hierarchy of urban-
Industrial development.

Each macro-region should be characterized by a high degree of Internal cohesion, forming an

economic system by Itself and having the liability to generate exchanges between itself Bind the
other regions within the country. This Compiles both complementarily of resources and
economic specialization within. each macro-regions and involves an analysis of economic ties
within the region and Its eco-Gnomic connections with the rest of the country.

The concept of self-sufficiency referred to here must be carefully understood. It does not seek to
Isolate the regions into closed circuit or water-tight systems. It only Implies some sort of balance
In the export-Import situation between each region and the rest of the country, which should be
achieved in any long term planning, This is really a test of regionalization and has been applied
In the present study only In a qualitative sense. This should be done by more resource analysis.
Involving the preparation of a number of 'balance sheets', by drawing a up inter-industrial and
Inter-regional balances of production and distribution of commodities and by building economic
and mathematical models of planned economy for each region and the country as a whole.

Meso-regions

The meso-regions are sub-divisions of macro-regions. They really form the primary economic
units for the purposes of planning the main objective of delineating meso-region is to carve out
viable areal effective exploitation, conservation and utilization of resources. Economic viability
implies that a meso-regions is to carve out viable areal units for effective exploitation, conser-
vation and utilization of resources. Economic viability at the minimum level Is the primary
consideration for grouping areas to form meso-regions. Such economic viability Implies that a
meso-region has adequate resource potential and established a production pattern sufficient to
meet the employment needs of the people in that unit over a period of time and, at the same
time, produce enough food or offer goods which can be exchanged for food to meet minimum or
offer goods which can be exchanged for food to meet minimum consumption needs. Economic
viability could be tested by examining the per capita income of the component units (districts).
Such figures are available only for some places and cannot be used with any reasonable
degree of reliability. In the pres-ent case, therefore, economic viability of the • meso-reglons has
been tested by examining indicators like per capita usable land, productivity Index and
manufacturing potential.

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Micro-level regions

Micro-level, the region should have some unifying core (problem of interest. It should include all
territory, tributary to the core. The areas within a micro-region should be characterized by
absence of serious conflicting interests within the area. -Its population must share certain basic
attitudes, values, needs and desires. Thus the micro-regions must be designed to rep resent a
"community of interests" particularly with regard to dynamic types of production, market
relationships and labor supply and demand. in this way, they will form the best possible
combination of structural, organizational and functional factors. The micro-regions are Intended
to be suitably units for the formulation of area development plans, as they will, be sufficiently
close to the grass roots, affording opportunities for direct Inter action between the citizens and
the administration to decide the key a Issues In area development. They can be of three broad
types.

a) They may be nodal regions consisting of urban Centers and the Influence areas around
them. In the case of certain nodal regions, such as those of big cities (e.g. Calcutta,
Delhi, etc.), the influence areas can be very large comprising a part of even the whole of
a macro-region. The nodal region, In such case, has been interpreted as the minimum
Influence areas (the metropolitan area) and not the total hinterland.

b) The micro-regions may also be primarily rural areas with a large number of minor nodes
without any organization hierarchy influencing the entire area. Here they may be
conceived essentially as service areas centered around potential growth points* which
may subsequently develop into one or more systems.

c) It is also possible for micro regions to be essentially problem areas of back ward areas;
for example, a coal belts a famine-prone area or a reclamation area. The Rayalaseema
area, the Chambal ravines and the.

Regional development planning in india.

Regional development planning started in india as early as 1947, when Damodar Valley
Corporation was set up by an Act of of Parliament. The importance of Regional Planning was
further recognized in the seminar on Regional Planning held in Tokyo from 26th of July to 8th
August 1958. in ' the various deliberations of the Tokyo seminar, ft was realized that
unprecedented growth of cities has given rise to various problems, which need to be controlled
and channelized into the region for striking a balance of development between rural and urban
areas. Actually it was hi this seminar that the growing need for Regional Development Planning
on global scale was recognized.

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Urban scenario.

India is experiencing some significant phenomena in its demographic structure, namely massive
growth of population, urbanization and megalopolitanisation. The last two decades witnessed a
strong trend towards emergence of metropolises in India; The next two decades are likely to be
marked by a dominance of mega cities.

India recorded a population of 844.3 million in 1991, of which 25.7% (217 million) was Urban
and rest 627.3 million i.e. 74.24% was Rural. It is expected that the level of urbanization will rise
to 30 to 32percent by the year 2001.

The number of metropolitan urban agglomerations (cities with more than one million population)
have almost doubled during the last decade i.e. from 12 in 1981 to 23 in 1991. As much as
1/3rd of our country's urban population is living in these centre’s. Keeping in view the present
rate of urbanization, it is expected that the number of such cities would increase to around 40
with over 350 million population by the turn of the century. Three hundred class I cities including
metro cities have registered an increase in their share of urban population from 60% in 1981 to
65% in 1991. It is thus evident that the growth of urban population in India, when coupled with
the present urban scenario foreshadows chaos of alarming proportions in respect of living
environment work centre’s, social facilities and services. While urbanization is considered to

provide opportunities for economic upliftment to the ever increasing population; definite policy
interventions are desirable to disperse the benefit of growth of large urban centre’s into the
region. This is likely to make cities manageable and also foster development of the region,

The number of urban centre’s in India were 3609 in 1981 and increased to 3768 by 1991 and
the number of villages continued to be around 5.5 lakhs. The increasing trend of urbanization in
the country can be seen from the following tables:

Table 1: Percentage of urban population to total population in India:

1921 11.12

1951 17.29

1971 19.87

1981 23.73

1991 25.72

These figures reveal the increasing trend of urbanization in the country.

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Table 2: Percentage of Urban Population in the Most Urbanized States in India (1991)

Maharastra 38.73

Gujarat 34.40

Tamil Nadu 34.20

Karnataka 30.91

The United Nations prepared in 1990 a list of 26 mega cities each of which was expected to
reach a population of 10 million (one crore) and above by 2010 AD, with 21 of them in
developed countries. Out of them India will have three mega cities viz, Bombay, Calcutta and
Delhi. The number of urban agglomerations with more than one million populations In India
increased from 12 to 23 between 1981 and 1991.

Between 1990 and 2030 global population is expected to grow by about 3.7 billion. Ninety per
cent of this increase will take place in developing countries and again ninety per cent of it will be
urban. India will continue to face the problem of urbanization in the coming decades of the 20th
century.

In USA a new type of sporadic growth is taking place in the middle area between
urban/suburban and the rural landscape, known as "Exurbs" with sub-division of land, large
farms, small settlements, some factories, ranchetts and hobby homes extending outward 100 to
120 kms from metropolitan areas More than 60 million people of USA are estimated to live in
such exurbs. Similar trend can be observed even in India, if we look at sporadic location of
resort towns, holiday homes, institutional areas, factories and settlement colonies around major
urban centers. This uncontrolled growth cannot be regulated without legally enforceable
regional plans.

Urban and regional planning since independence of india

With rapid industrialization and urbanization, after Independence of India, it was found
necessary to regulate the growth of urban centers Before Independence town planning system
in India was almost similar to that practiced in England and master plans with town planning
schemes were prepared for areas covered within the municipal limits of some cities and towns.
The Bombay Town Planning Act, 1915 and Madras Town Planning Act, 1920 were the earliest
legislations on town planning. Side by side City Improvement Trust Acts were enacted for
extension and improvement of cities to accommodate the influx of population.

Retrospect

Considering the urban problems during and after World War If, Government of Pre-
independence India set up the Health Survey and Development Committee under the
chairmanship of Sir Joseph Bhore. The recommendations of the Committee, made in 1946,

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include all aspects of public health and environmental hygiene including town and country
planning. The recommendations pertaining to town planning were:

i) establishment of a Ministry of Housing and Town Planning In each province.

ii) enactment of legislations to regulate planning of not only towns but also the rural settlements
on a fairly uniform basis.

iii) certain number of selected individuals to be sent to Europe for training and if necessary town
planning experts from abroad be recruited on short-term contracts, and

iv) training centre’s for town planners should be set up at least in a few universities in the
country.

The first recommendation of Sir Joseph Bhore Committee resulted, after the Independence of
the Country, in the creation and strengthening of the Directorates of Town Planning at state
level and creation of the Central Regional and Urban Plan nig Organization (CRUPO-
Predecessor of the present TCPO), under the Ministry of Health.

Post-Independence Period

Independence of India brought in its wake both happiness and sorrow. The partition of the
country into three parts created tremendous problems of refugee rehabilitation in the north-west
and the north east of the country. The brunt of the problem was borne by Delhi, Calcutta and the
surrounding towns and cites* The resettlement of displaced persons caused the creation of a
number of planned new towns In Punjab. Uttar Pradesh and Bengal apart from Delhi and
surroundings Industrial activity added new dimension to urban and regional planning through
planning and development of many new steel plant cities and project towns in different states
New capital cities like Chandigarh, Bhubaneshwar and Gandhinagar. apart from Ghazibad.
Fandabad etc. are best examples to illustrate the amount ofplanning effort that has gone in
planning new towns. But legal framework for regulating planned growth of human settlements
was lacking in the country.

Planning Legislation

It is only after Independence that all the States started putting their heads together to evolve a
common policy on urban and regional planning matters. Excepting a few Slates which had
enacted special Town Planning Acts, the other States in the country had to depend upon the
legal provisions contained in various City Corporation Acts, Municipal Acts. City Improvement
Acts, Village Panchayat Acts. Cantonment Board Acts, etc.. for planned development of urban
and rural areas.

Another important aspect to be considered in this context is the Constitution of India coming into
force with effect from 26th January 1950 and the fundamental rights that every citizen enjoys as
far as his property rights are concerned. Certain provisions contained in the earlier Town
Planning Acts required revision under the changed circumstances and to face the challenges

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posed by the rapidly expanding unban centre’s A comprehensive legislation was found
necessary for checking haphazard and unhealthy development in our urban and rural areas.

Status of Regional Development Planning in India

Regional Development Planning in India has addressed itself to unified development of urban
communities and their environs and of states, regions and the nation. Regional Planning has
now become a scientific methodology of complex analysis of all factors and their relationship,
which go together to make a potentially prosperous area. Besides helping in the identification of
national goals, regional development plans also help in restricting the rural population from
migrating to bigger urban centre’s and industrial areas. Maximum utilization of natural resources
and social upliftment is only possible through balanced regional development

With the directions which were set out in the Third Five Year Plan, the central Town and
Country Planning Organization from the early sixties has identified at sub national level, on the
basis of complementarity of natural and man-made resources, socio-economic and geo-physical
factors, a set of economically viable macro regions. These form the basis of resource-based
regional development plans translating the national five year plans into the space oriented
physical development plans at the sub national level. An integrated development plan was
prepared for one of the macro resource regions, namely, the South East Resource Region
comprising parts of U.P., Bihar, West Bengal, Orissa and Madhya Pradesh. At the instance of
Planning Commission, development plans for specific area like backward hill regions, mineral
rich regions and ecologically vulnerable areas were drawn up providing guidance in regard to
optimum development confirming to environmental, ecological and resource conservation
policies.

A critical appraisal of the earlier Five year Plans depicts that even the Third five year plan could
not achieve the objectives of balanced planning at grass root level. This very fact became
apparent during the assessment of the Fourth Five year plan benefits, which could not percolate
at the grass root level. As such, while formulating the objectives in the fourth plan, the necessity
of district plans was thought. It is at this stage that the Regional Development Planning In India
has been thought to be prepared at the following levels:

i) Regional Development plan at the National level.

ii) Regional Physical plans for the sub regions within sub states and working out the

economic plan for the state.

iii) Preparation of area development plans for districts and blocks

Efforts for Regional Development Planning in India

One of the important objectives of a regional plan is to evolve an improved pattern of urban and
rural settlements in the region with a view to provide the basic economic services and
community facilities required for the development of the region, thereby striking a regional
balance and reducing regional disparities. Our planners have been quite serious in the process

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of identifying the regions of tow economic growth and areas of comparatively higher and better
economic potentialities. Such an effort cam into existence right from the First Five year plan,
when some major industrial and river valley projects for agricultural development were initiated,
keeping in view the necessity as to how the economic benefits of such mega projects can be
made to percolate for the benefit of masses at the grassroots level

During the last three and a half decades, specific regional and sub regional plans have been
prepared for many areas of the county, both at the central and state level. Important regional
development plans prepared by Central Town & Country Planning Organization are as under:

i) National Capital Region

ii) South East Resource Region

iii) Dandakaranya Sub-Region

iv) Malkangiri Area Plan

v) Goa Regional Plan

vi) Agra Bharatpur and Morena Sub-Region of Chambal Valley

vit) Naurangdesar Sub-Region of Rajasthan Canal Region

viii) Western Ghats Region

While the important states which have identified regions within their stalls and also preparing
Regional Plans are Tamilnadu, Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh and Madhya
Pradesh, etc.

Institute of Town Planners, India

The establishment of the Institute of Town Planners, India in 1951 provided an opportunity for
town planners to exchange views on urban and regional planning matters. The planeers who
started the ITPI were M.. Fayazuddin SK. Joglekar, TJ. Manickam, V.N. Prasad, Walter George.
C.S. Chandrasekhara and others. The .Annual. Town and Country Planning Seminars (now
Congress) held in different parts of die country created the needed stage for planners,
engineers, administrators, legal experts, representatives of various authorities to get together
and discuss important issues on urban and regional planning .A few of such topics like planning
legislation and planning education are already discussed It is hoped that the institute will play an
important role tn the future.

National Commission on Urbanization

Another important event that took place in the country during the first 50 years of Independence,
is the constitution of the National Commission on Urbanization under the chairmanship of
Charles Correea to study and recommend to Government of India: the dimensions of
urbanization and proposals for planned development of our urban areas Though the
Commission submitted In August 1988 its detailed Report with recommendations, which were

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well publicized and debated, the Union Government did not take further action to place the
Report before Parliament Though many of the recommendations were not acceptable to the
professional planners, a great opportunity is lost in evolving a "National Urbanization Policy" for
India.

Constitution 73rd and 74th Amendment Acts, 1992

The 73rd Amendment to the Constitution of India pertains to Zilla Panchayats and 74th
Amendment to the municipalities and metropolitan areas. Three important matters which
concern both Zilla Panchayats and municipalities and have impact on urban and regional
planning are the following:

i) The State Finance Commission, to be constituted by the Governor of the State, will be
common to Zilla Panchayats as well as Municipalities.

ii) District Planning Committee of each district is to be entrusted with matters which concern the

Urban-rural interface. This committee has to consolidate the plans prepared by the panchayats
and municipalities and prepare a development plan for the entire district. Even after five years of

the Constitution 73rd and 74th amendments, district planning committees are not yet constituted
in many states. It is also doubtful whether the committee will be able to look after urban and
regional planning function (physical planning) or will function like an economic planning
committee.

iii) Metropolitan Planning Committee has to be constituted for each metropolitan area under the
Constitution 74th Amendment Act Similar to District Planning Committee, it will have jurisdiction
both on the urban area and the surrounding rural tract within the proposed metropolitan region.
With the kind of composition of members proposed In the amendment ft is feared that the
committee will not be able to function as a technical organization but as a coordinating agency
for the urban and rural settlements within the area. Moreover the existing metropolitan
development authorities and infrastructure development authorities will have overlapping
functions with those of the metropolitan planning committee

Devolopement activities should start from the grass root level i.e. the village should be
considered as a basic unit o restrict and control urbanward migration. regional level should aim
at following targets:

To develop a small medium size towns.

To provide better transport linkages to connect the small planning unit i.e. village.

To improve and provide health and medical facilities.

To provide minimum required educational facilities for the smallest unit of planning.

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Two major events took place in 1951 i.e.,(1) Launching of the First Five Year Plan (1951-
1956) and (2) Establishing the Institute of Town Planners, India.

The First Five Year Plan encouraged planning of urban areas. But there was no comprehensive
legislation for planning, as discussed earlier. The Central Regional and Urban Planning
Organization (CRUPO), created in 1955, started preparation of Comprehensive Development
Plan for Delhi in 1957, in collaboration with the Ford Foundation, USA.

The Second Five Year Plan (1956-1961) set some guidelines for urban and regional planning. It
encouraged preparation of master plans for major cities like Bombay, Calcutta, Delhi Madras.
Allahabad. Hyderabad. Bangalore. Kanpur, Lucknow, Puna, etc.

Plans for new towns and resource regions and River Valleys like Damodar Valley, Bhakra-
Nangal, Hirakud and Chambal were proposed. Delhi Master Plan was published In 1961 and it
served as a reference plan for preparation of urban development plans all over the country.

The Third Five Year Plan (1961-1966) provided financial assistance for establishing town
planning! organizations for preparation of urban development plans for major cities having
above 100,000 population and important growth centre’s. The Third Five Year Plan can be
considered as the most important Plan which encouraged states to set up Directorates of Town

Planning and enact legislations on urban and regional planning, utilizing the financial assistance
offered by Government of India

The Fourth Five Year Plan (1969-1974) encouraged implementation of Basic Development Plan
for Calcutta (1966-1986^ which was prepared by the Ford Foundation Team. The Bombay
Metropolitan Regional Planning Broad and Calcutta Metropolitan Development Authority were
constituted during the 4 th plan period . Housing and Urban Development Corporation (HUDCO)
was set up in 1970 as a financing agency for housing and urban development.

During the Fifth Five Year Plan (1974-1979) the Institute of Town Planners initiated
correspondence with the Prime Minister of India in 1974, as a follow up of the 22nd Town and
Country Planning Seminar held at 8hopal(the author was the President of ITPI then), to
encourage growth of small and medium towns and cities in tie country. Being convinced, the
Union Government appointed a Task Force in 1975 under the chairmanship of Prof. Bp Ghosh
to study the prospects of developing small and medium towns In India, its report was submitted
ID Government of India in February 1977, after which a programme known as Integrated
Development of Small and Medium Towns (IDSMT) was initiated.

The Sixth and Seventh Five Year Plans (1980-1985 &1985-90) provided funds for IDSMT
programmes throughout the country in order to encourage planned development of small and
medium towns, which were not growing when compared to major urban centre’s and
metropolices HUDCO continued financing housing and unban development programmes The
achievement under IDSMT programme was unsatisfactory in most of the towns selected under
the programme, during the Seventh as well as the Eight! Five Year Plans.

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Prospects

So far, the efforts made in the country in evolving a new system for planning and development
of urban and rural areas are discussed. it will be voluminous to go into details of various other
legal and administrative issues concerning urban and regional planning Planners are aware of
the impact of industrialization and economic development on human settlements and the efforts
made so far in different sectors like housing, infrastructure, slum up gradation and rural
development to solve urban and regional

planning problems. Still the situation in our urban and rural settlements is far from satisfactory,
though some attractive new towns and town extensions have been created on town and country
planning principles.

Conclusion

A high level of urbanization is the characteristic of the developed nations It is observed that
rapid urbanization, which was the trend in developed countries in the early part of the twentieth
century, has now become almost exclusively a Third World phenomenon Roughly 90% of urban
growth In the world is expected to occur in less developed countries (LOCs) in the coming three
decades As soon in the case of the developed countries, stabilization of urban population in
india may take place when 70% to 80% of a country's population moves into urban areas. The
country is expended to reach this stage by the middle of the 21st century. Therefore town
planners at the national, state and local levels have to be prepared to face the challenge
through preparation of urban and regional development plans covering various regions in me
country.

The local authorities, which have to prepare local plans' under the regional development plan or
tie structure plan, whatever the name may be, are to be strengthened with technical capability
by qualified

Urban and regional planners Unless this is done the proposals of me urban planners at the
nation and state levels will be a cry in the wilderness' as the local authorities will not be able to
meet the challenge of rapid urbanization Urban planning and development need proper
guidelines and direction at the local level after-the Constitution 74m Amendment Act, 1992
came into force, in a democratic set-up mere are many agencies which need proper direction
and co-ordination to achieve me common good at the local level An urban development plan or
a regional development plan can succeed when all the agencies concerned follow the
proposals sincerely and implement them effectively with the help of urban and regional planners
at different levels.

When we consider the overall achievements in the last 50 years, we may say that it is
satisfactory But the work ahead is stupendous and needs unstinted co-operation of all section of
society to make the task of urban and regional planner* easy. Let us be optimistic and continue
our work steadfastly, to achieve sustainable development of human settlements

Aditya A. Pungavkar
09AR6017 Page 15
Regional planning in India.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

I WOULD LIKE TO ACKNOWLEDGE AND EXTEND MY HEARTFELT GRATITUDE TO

THE FOLLOWING PERSONS WHO HAVE MADE THE COMPLETION OF THIS
LECTURE NOTES POSSIBLE:

BONHI CHAKRABORTY, KEYA CHAKROBARTY, INDRANI CHAKRABORTY, FOR

THEIR VITAL ENCOURAGEMENT AND SUPPORT. AND UNDERSTANDING OUR
H.O.D. MR. BK SENGUPTA DEPARTMENT OF ARCHITECTURAL AND REGIONAL
PLANNING KHARAGPUR FOR THE CONSTANT REMINDERS AND MUCH NEEDED
MOTIVATION.

ALL FACULTY MEMBERS AND STAFF MOST ESPECIALLY TO MY FAMILY AND

FRIENDS AND TO GOD , WHO MADE ALL THINGS POSSIBLE.

REGIONAL PLANNING IN INDIA

ADITYA A. PUNGAVKAR
DEPARTMENT OF ARCHITECTURE AND REGIONAL PLANNING
INDIAN INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY KHARAGPUR

Aditya A. Pungavkar
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