The Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) is poised to resolve a long-standing controversy surrounding the Makarba Town Planning (TP) Scheme 204. A state-appointed town planning committee has recommended a significant 40% deduction in the original plot sizes of approximately 50 high-profile individuals. This decision, expected to bring closure to the contentious issue, affects a prominent 1,100-hectare area encompassing Sarkhej, Okaf, Makarba, Vejalpur, and Ambli.
The Makarba TP Scheme 204, strategically located between SG Highway, Mumatpura Road, and SP Ring Road, has been a focal point for high-profile residential and commercial developments. However, it has also been mired in controversy for nearly six years, with allegations of manipulation in land deduction rules purportedly favouring influential plot owners. The revision of the TP scheme’s draft, conducted by a three-member town planning committee formed by the state government, aims to address these allegations. The proposed plan mandates a uniform 40% deduction from the original plots of the implicated VVIPs. Furthermore, the committee suggests designating the deducted land for ‘sale for residential purposes,’ thereby potentially enhancing the city’s infrastructure and public amenities.
The revised plan is scheduled for presentation before the AMC’s town planning committee on Friday, seeking approval before submission to the state government for preliminary clearance. The controversy traces back to 2007 when the area was under the jurisdiction of the Ahmedabad Urban Development Authority (AUDA). During this period, AUDA permitted a ‘samjhauti karar’ or Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between plot owners. This agreement allowed some owners to avoid mandatory land deductions from their prime plots by instead allocating cheaper plots on the periphery or in neighbouring villages, effectively bypassing the regulations.
According to a senior AMC official, this arrangement disproportionately benefited 50 to 60 VVIP landowners, who exploited the MoU to circumvent the required deductions. This practice, although unofficial, received tacit approval from certain corrupt town planning officials, resulting in significant revenue losses for the AMC. The issue escalated to the Gujarat Legislative Assembly, prompting further scrutiny.
In 2007, the jurisdiction of TP Scheme 204 shifted to AMC. Subsequently, a letter from the then Chief City Planner (CCP) to the state government highlighted the alleged manipulations, leading to the suspension of a town planning officer (TPO). The state government responded by halting development permissions from 2017 onwards and establishing a committee comprising three TPOs to re-evaluate the scheme. The committee’s revised guidelines include a strict 40% deduction on original plots, targeting those who previously benefited from the MoU. It stipulates that development permissions will only be granted where a final plot has been assigned within the original plot, and the mandatory deduction has been implemented. This decisive action underscores the AMC’s commitment to restoring fairness and integrity in the city’s land development practices.