Kick Starts Brainstorming on TDRs, Land Pooling Policies
FARHAN BUKHARI
SRINAGAR, June 29: The Government of Jammu and Kashmir has taken a significant step towards enhancing urban development by formulating the Draft Jammu and Kashmir Grant and Utilisation of Transferable Development Rights Policy 2024 and the Draft Jammu and Kashmir Land Pooling Policy 2024.
As part of the inclusive policy-making process, the Housing and Urban Development Department has invited objections and suggestions from the general public.
To further this initiative, Commissioner Secretary Housing and Urban Development Department convened meetings with real estate stakeholders of Kashmir and Jammu on 26th and 29th of June, 2024, at the Civil Secretariat in Srinagar and Jammu respectively.
These meetings aimed at gathering valuable insights and feedback from the realtors of Jammu and Kashmir on the proposed policies.
A comprehensive presentation on the Draft Grant and Utilisation of Transferable Development Rights Policy and the Draft Land Pooling Policy was delivered, detailing the key features and benefits of the policies.
Official sources in the meeting told Kashmir Despatch that in response to the growing demands of urbanization, Jammu and Kashmir has introduced TDR and Land Pool Policy, 2024 which aims to alleviate the financial burdens on Urban Local Bodies and Development Authorities by facilitating the development of urban infrastructure.
An officer told Kashmir Despatch that the TDR policy allows landowners to receive additional buildable area, or TDRs, in exchange for land surrendered for public projects, such as road widening and the creation of amenities. These rights can be used on other land parcels or sold, providing better and faster compensation to landowners compared to traditional methods. The policy leverages the development potential of surrendered land to accelerate infrastructure development and enhance public amenities.
This approach, already successful in other regions globally and in India, is expected to drive seamless economic growth and improve citizen welfare in Jammu and Kashmir. The policy represents a significant step towards modernizing the region’s urban landscape, addressing challenges of land acquisition, and ensuring sustainable development.
Additionally, the Jammu and Kashmir Land Pooling Policy, 2024, aims to consolidate fragmented land parcels, fostering equitable development and transforming urban spaces. It promotes collaboration between landowners, private developers, and the government, ensuring fair distribution of developed land and benefits, while addressing environmental concerns. This policy is designed to support the region’s economic growth and enhance the quality of life for its residents.
What are TDRs?
Transferable Development Rights (TDRs) are awards that grant owners of land additional buildable area in exchange for surrendering their land, free of cost and encumbrances, to the Competent Authority as per policy guidelines. This separation of land’s development potential from its physical presence allows surrendered land’s development rights to be converted into TDRs. These TDRs can then be utilized on other land parcels or transferred to others in need, enabling additional development beyond what’s typically allowed by Development Control Regulations (DCRs). This strategy harnesses the development potential of an area for public amenities and infrastructure, thus supporting urban growth. Landowners benefit from quicker and better compensation through TDRs compared to conventional methods. Globally and in India, TDR policies have proven effective in facilitating economic growth, prompting Jammu and Kashmir to consider adopting its own TDR policy to foster economic development and improve citizen welfare.
What is Land Pooling?
The Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir, rich in historical heritage and natural beauty, faces pivotal challenges such as land fragmentation, inadequate infrastructure, and uneven economic development. To address these, the Land Pooling Policy has been introduced, aiming to harness private developers’ expertise to create well-planned urban spaces. This policy seeks to foster economic growth, improve residents’ quality of life, and preserve the region’s environmental and cultural integrity through inclusive and sustainable development practices.
Key principles include open participation for all landowners in notified areas, formation of developer consortia, and stringent regulatory frameworks to ensure environmental harmony. The policy mandates that land parcels for pooling must be free from encumbrances, and areas become eligible once 70% of the land within a Contiguous Area is pooled. Additionally, it emphasizes the development of residential, commercial, and public facilities at the neighborhood level, including provisions for Economically Weaker Sections (EWS) housing as per existing housing policies.
