NMC suggests religious structures on playgrounds

Nagpur: In a controversial move, Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) has suggested allowing religious structures in playgrounds as well as amenity space of layouts in the new unified development control regulations (DCR). If approved, religious structures could be allowed in the 15% of total area of playgrounds and amenity spaces.
At present, DCR of municipal corporations, municipal councils and metropolitan regions are separate. The government has prepared unified DCR for all municipal corporations, excluding Mumbai, municipal councils and metropolitan regions. Suggestions and objections were invited up to April 29.
The government received suggestions/objections from 40, including NMC. The government will conduct hearing before finalizing the unified DCR.
The state government has already made provisions for various types of uses in recreational open spaces meant for playgrounds. The uses incorporated by the government are pavilion, gymnasia, fitness centre, club house, vipassana, yoga centre, crèche, kindergarten, library, indoor or outdoor stadiums, utilities such as water tank, electric substation, generator set, pump houses, garbage treatment and public health out post/centre.
NMC wants the government to also include religious structure in the list of usages. Any of these usages will be allowed up to a maximum of 15% of total area of playground. Similarly, government did not include construction of religious structure in amenity space, which NMC has suggested. If allowed, religious structure can come up in total area of amenity space, which is 10% of total area of the layout.
Following demolition of illegal religious structures on HC orders last year, NMC general body had passed a resolution requesting the government to allow regularization of existing structures in playgrounds and amenity space. The civic body had also sought permanent provision for religious structure in amenity space, but not in recreational open space. The proposal is pending with the government.
Unfortunately, the government has reduced area of recreational open space from 15% to 10% of total area of the layout, which means playgrounds in upcoming layouts will be smaller compared to existing layouts. Allowing religious structure in playgrounds will further reduce the size of playgrounds.
Also, NMC does not want recreational open spaces in small layouts. The government had made mandatory provision of recreational open space for all layouts of or above 0.2 hectare. NMC has suggested increasing this criteria to 0.4 hectare.
NMC has also suggested retaining commercial floor space index (FSI) of 2.5 for commercial purpose. At present, commercial FSI is 2.5 for the city. But the government has proposed only 1.25 FSI for commercial purpose in unified DCR.
The move will have a major impact on the city, said experts, and builders and architects have lodged objections to the move.
There is no mention about FSI in congested areas of the city in unified DCR. However, the same is mentioned for other cities and towns. NMC has suggested retaining FSI of 2 in congested areas of the city.
NMC has also suggested retaining existing norms of city’s Metro Rail Transit Oriented Development (ToD) policy as it is in the unified DCR. The government has proposed different norms under TOD policy. Instead of suggesting changes in proposed norms, NMC has asked to incorporate existing policy as it is.