The Department of Town and Country Planning (DTCP) has revised its policy to encourage the construction of low-density and eco-friendly farmhouse colonies on agricultural land. The new policy allows developers to apply for a license for any agricultural land within the city's master plan and caps the number of residents at 25 per acre. To promote eco-friendliness, colonies would need to install solar plants, stormwater recycling systems, sewage treatment plants, waste management facilities, and biodegradable waste recycling facilities.
The Department of Town and Country Planning (DTCP) in India has recently revised its policy on farmhouse colonies, shifting the focus towards low-density, eco-friendly constructions on agricultural land. The new policy encourages projects that adopt ecologically sensitive principles of design and development and require a minimum land area of 25 acres in Gurgaon, 15 acres in Sohna, and 10 acres in Pataudi and Farrukhnagar. The previous 2019 policy mandated a minimum investment of 100 acres for developers, but this requirement has been reduced in the latest revision to make it more accessible.
Under the new guidelines, farmhouse colonies must cap the number of residents at 25 per acre and install solar plants, stormwater recycling systems, sewage treatment plants, and waste management facilities. Developers must also ensure that biodegradable waste is properly recycled and that at least 20 trees are planted on each plot. The DTCP hopes that these measures will encourage the development of eco-friendly farmhouse colonies that are in line with sustainable development goals.
Rajesh Kaushik, the Gurgaon district town planner (planning), has explained that developers can apply for a license to use any agricultural land within the city's master plan. External development charges (EDC) will not be levied for land outside urban areas, but developers will be charged 50% EDC if their land is within 500 meters of an urban area. The DTCP has stated that all other fees and charges, such as scrutiny fees, license fees, conversion charges, and others, will remain the same as those for normal plotted residential colonies in the city. In the previous 2019 policy, developers had to pay 10% of the EDC on being granted a license.
The revised policy has been introduced to encourage developers to build farmhouse colonies that adhere to eco-friendly principles and to curb the construction of illegal farmhouses. It sets guidelines for low-density, eco-friendly farmhouses with solar power, rainwater harvesting, and other sustainable features. According to the new policy, a farmhouse of 1 acre-1.5 acres can utilize 300 sqm for construction, which increases to 400 sqm if the farmhouse area is 1.5 acres-2 acres and 500 sqm if it is 2 acres-2.5 acres. A farmhouse can be a three-story structure up to 12 meters in height or a two-story building up to 7 meters in height. A basement can be built as per provisions of the Haryana Building Code 2017.
The internal roads of each farmhouse colony must be at least 9 meters wide, and each farmhouse can be between one to 2.5 acres in size. The approach road to the colony should be 12 meters wide or more. Each gated colony can have a club, and 80% of the total area can be sold by the developer. There is also provision for shops limited to a 1,000 sqft (or 93 sqm) commercial space. Of the saleable area, 4% can be designated for agriculture-based non-polluting service industries, but this won't be mandatory.
In conclusion, the revised policy on farmhouse colonies by the DTCP is a welcome development as it encourages eco-friendly development on agricultural land. The new policy promotes sustainable practices such as solar power, rainwater harvesting, and waste management, and sets guidelines for low-density development. This policy is also aimed at curbing the construction of illegal farmhouses and ensuring that developments follow sustainable principles. Overall, the new policy is a positive step towards sustainable development in India.
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