Coimbatore City Corporation has devised a plan following the Tamil Nadu Unified Building Rules 2019, which mandates the allocation of 10% of land area for public utilities in building projects ranging from 3000 to 10,000 square meters.
Coimbatore: In an ambitious move aimed at enhancing green cover, Coimbatore City Corporation announced its plan to establish parks in every zone of the city. According to the new mandate, 10% of every residential, commercial, private establishment, and industrial land area between 3000 and 10,000 square meters specifically set aside as Open Space Reservation (OSR) should either be provided to the corporation for public use or the equivalent guideline value paid if not complied.
As per reports, there are currently 2232 designated OSR sites within Coimbatore (approximately 550 acres) valued at around Rs. 16,000 crore. Currently, half of these sites are being used as public parks or playgrounds. Over the past three years, more than 400 OSR sites have been fenced and declared as corporation property.
In the upcoming two months, an additional 567 OSR sites will be transferred under the corporation’s name. In the first phase this year, 25 OSR sites are planned to be developed into full-fledged parks as part of this green initiative. Environmentalists believe that planting more trees in these areas will significantly improve air quality within the city.
A shift in official policy stipulates that if 10% of the land is not surrendered, the developers must pay an amount equal to the guideline value of the reserved space, prompting many to choose payment over land surrender due to the lower guideline values compared to market values. This has led to calls from civic activists for revisions in governmental urban planning regulations to foster more sustainable developments.
The city needs these activities not just for environmental sustenance but also to maintain social spaces in rapidly urbanizing areas, said a corporation spokesperson. Several large parks on OSR land are also slated for development across various zones of Coimbatr...