Primary law, Tamil Nadu land law
Tamil Nadu Metropolitan Planning Committee Act, 2009
The Tamil Nadu Metropolitan Planning Committee Act, 2009, Act No. 30 of 2009, dated 12 August 2009, was enacted by the Legislative Assembly of the State of Tamil Nadu. It provides for a Metropolitan Planning Committee in every notified metropolitan area to prepare a draft development plan for the area as a whole, and it omits two provisions from the Chennai City Municipal Corporation Act, 1919. The Act applies across Tamil Nadu and comes into force on a date appointed by the State Government through notification.
What the Act governs
The Tamil Nadu Metropolitan Planning Committee Act, 2009 creates a planning and coordination framework for metropolitan areas in Tamil Nadu. A metropolitan area is an area with a population of ten lakhs or more, covering one or more districts and containing at least two municipalities, panchayats or other contiguous areas, as specified by the State Government through notification.
The Act does not itself approve an individual development, change land use or decide property ownership. Property buyers, owners and professionals may be affected indirectly because the draft development plan must address spatial planning, infrastructure, natural resources and environmental conservation across the metropolitan area.
Metropolitan Planning Committee
A Metropolitan Planning Committee must be constituted for every metropolitan area. Its main responsibility is to prepare a draft development plan for the entire area.
Key provisions include:
- The State Government determines the number of members, including the Chairperson and Vice-Chairperson.
- At least two-thirds of the members must be elected from among elected municipal members and panchayat presidents in the metropolitan area.
- Elected representation must reflect the population ratio between municipalities and panchayats.
- The State Government appoints the Chairperson, Vice-Chairperson and members who are not elected members.
- Elected members hold office for five years, but cease to be committee members if they are no longer municipal elected members or panchayat presidents.
- The committee may create sub-committees for particular purposes.
Preparing the development plan
The Metropolitan Planning Committee must consider municipal and panchayat plans, coordinated spatial planning, shared water and natural resources, integrated infrastructure, environmental conservation, government priorities, expected public investment and other available resources. It must also consult institutions and organisations specified by the State Government.
The Chairperson forwards the development plan recommended by the committee to the State Government. The State Government may appoint an existing authority, including a Metropolitan Development Authority established under the Tamil Nadu Town and Country Planning Act, 1971, to assist the committee and serve as its office.
Government powers and other changes
The State Government may issue directions to Metropolitan Planning Committees and make rules, notifications and orders under the Act. These instruments must be published in the Tamil Nadu Government Gazette and placed before the Legislative Assembly.
The Act also omits clause (13-AA) of section 3 and section 27-B from the Chennai City Municipal Corporation Act, 1919.
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Common questions
Does the Act directly change the ownership or title of my property?
The Act provides for metropolitan planning committees and draft development plans. It does not state that it changes individual property ownership or title.
What qualifies as a metropolitan area under the Act?
It must have a population of ten lakhs or more, cover one or more districts, and contain at least two municipalities, panchayats or other contiguous areas. The State Government must specify it as a metropolitan area through notification.
What property-related matters can a draft development plan consider?
The committee must consider coordinated spatial planning, infrastructure development, water and other natural resources, environmental conservation, local body plans, government priorities and likely investments.
Did the Act come into force automatically on 12 August 2009?
No automatic commencement date is stated in the Act. It provides that commencement will be on a date appointed by the State Government through notification.
