The Punjab government today allowed the use of agricultural land for activities covered under the mix-land use category. Mix-land use had been allowed on 200-metre strips along Kharar-Morinda, Banur-Tepla and other major roads passing through the local planning areas. This would also check encroachments along the roads. To ease urbanisation pressure of land on Chandigarh’s periphery, the concept of agri-recreational zone has been introduced. Focusing on agriculture-themed uses, the new concept allows farmers to unlock some value of land while maintaining predominant agriculture use. Prepared under the Punjab Regional and Town Planning and Development Act, 2006, the area between Chandigarh-Ludhiana highway and Chandigarh-Kurali highway and to the north of Kharar city has been marked as agri-recreational zone in the master plan.
It primarily includes Pokhri, Radyala, Daumajra, Bhagomajra and Khanpur villages. On the pattern of the Mohali master plan, the town and country planning department has also proposed low-density population of 175 persons per acre. Similarly, the area north of Mohali and Chandigarh-Ludhiana track has been marked for residential, institutional and government buildings.
The area to the left of Kharar-Ludhiana has been reserved for institutional and mix-land use. Keeping in mind the agriculture potential of the area, the Singapore-based consultants have proposed agriculture use in Badala, Badali and Tripri villages. The projected population of Kharar LPA by 2031 has been projected at 2,20,300. While approving the master plan of Banur, an educational hub along the Chandigarh-Patiala highway has been allowed. Already several educational colleges have come up along the highway.
The area around the Kharar-Tepla-Banur road has been marked as industrial. However, the agricultural zone has been marked as a buffer zone between the industrial and educational hubs. The Banur local planning area comprises 31 villages.
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