The government is set to start land pooling for 10 new towns proposed along the Mid-Hill Highway from next fiscal year. The New Town Project Co-ordination Office (NTPCO), which supervises the new town project, is preparing a detailed project report (DPR) of land pooling project in this regard.

In the first phase, the NTPCO will implement the land pooling project in Phidim, Khurkot and Chaurjahari — three locations out of the 10 selected to develop new towns. “We plan to start land pooling from the first quarter of next fiscal year after completing the DPR,” said Rabi Shah, acting project coordinator of NTPCO.

Land pooling is considered to be a basic requirement for planned development of township. It is being implemented before preparation of a master plan and building by-laws for each planned town along the Mid-Hill Highway. Normally, the master plan is formulated first to guide land use and land pooling starts later on.

Currently, the issue of preparing the master plan is under consideration at the Supreme Court as the consultants

bidding for the master plan preparation service filed a case against the recommendation of NTPCO to blacklist them. Those firms were found bidding in collusion, which is against the Public Procurement Act.

NTPCO officials said that they will start land pooling first and also prepare a master plan based on the court’s decision. The firms to be hired for consulting service for DPR of land pooling projects will prepare a detailed study encompassing block plan, infrastructure network, land contribution policy and others.

The consultant will also develop readjustment plan consisting of new cadastral map with all topographical features of land pooling schemes and partially implement the approved land pooling plan and prepare DPR of major infrastructure projects of the land pooled areas. Likewise, the consulting firms will work on educating local people of planned urban development by ensuring their active participation in the development of new towns.

Shah said that based on the land contribution policy, the government is planning to provide ‘attractive land plots’ to land owners who contribute their land in each proposed town.

The government has selected two locations each that can accommodate a population of at least 100,000 people in the five developments regions to develop them into towns.

Patan (Baitadi), Sanfebagar (Achham), Rakam Karnali (Dailekh), Chaurjahari (Ruk-um), Burtibang (Baglung), Dumre Bhansar (Tanahun), Baireni Galchhi (Dhading), Khurkot (Sindhuli), Basantapur (Taplejung) and Phidim (Panchthar) are locations that have been selected by the government to establish the towns.

“As the government has ensured to provide Rs 500 million budget next fiscal year, we will start land pooling in other locations of planned towns too from next fiscal year,” Shah added. The feasibility study of other seven towns has also reportedly reached the final stage.

source: the himalayan times,4 june 2014