Official guidance, Tamil Nadu land law
G.O. (Ms.) No. 97, Preparation of Master Plans for Hill Areas, 2025
The Tamil Nadu Housing and Urban Development Department issued G.O. (Ms.) No. 97 dated 27 June 2025, granting administrative and financial sanction to prepare Hill Area Master Plans for seven towns and cities. It approves a total project cost of Rs.10,71,67,212, using Rs.1,76,00,000 from the Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation 2.0 scheme and Rs.9,18,06,392 from the Coimbatore Local Planning Authority fund, subject to permission from the Local Planning Authority.
Purpose
G.O. (Ms.) No. 97 dated 27 June 2025 from the Tamil Nadu Housing and Urban Development Department authorises the preparation of dedicated Hill Area Master Plans. The plans are intended to support planned growth, ecological conservation, disaster management and preparedness, tourism, sustainable development and climate adaptation.
Areas covered
The approved planning work covers seven hill towns and cities:
- Udhagamandalam in The Nilgiris, 160.49 sq.km.
- Coonoor and Kothagiri in The Nilgiris, 129.26 sq.km.
- Gudalur in The Nilgiris, 47.71 sq.km.
- Nelliyalam in The Nilgiris, 94.28 sq.km.
- Kodaikanal in Dindigul district, 488.14 sq.km.
- Valparai in Coimbatore district, 217.87 sq.km.
- Yercaud in Salem district, 62.39 sq.km.
Udhagamandalam and Valparai are included from the Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation 2.0 sub-scheme list of towns.
Planning work
The Hill Area Master Plans will use GIS based techniques and drone technology in line with the Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation Design and Standards for Drone/UAV Technology, 2020. The work will include studies of:
- Topographic conditions and geotechnical components.
- Tourism facilities.
- Landslide prone areas.
- Eco-sensitive areas, including forests and channels.
- Tribal areas.
The document notes that ecological sensitivity, difficult terrain, specialised equipment, expert consultants and case-specific studies increase the cost of preparing these plans.
Funding approved
G.O. (Ms.) No. 97 grants administrative sanction for a total cost of Rs.10,71,67,212, including GST. Of this, Rs.1,76,00,000 is available under the Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation 2.0 scheme for Udhagamandalam and Valparai up to 100 sq.km.
The approved balance of Rs.9,18,06,392 includes GST and contingency expenditure. It will be drawn from the Coimbatore Local Planning Authority fund only after permission is obtained from the Local Planning Authority.
Relevance to property owners and buyers
G.O. (Ms.) No. 97 funds and directs the preparation of future Hill Area Master Plans. It does not itself publish a completed master plan or set out new land use controls, but the planning studies are relevant to owners, buyers and professionals working in the seven listed hill areas.
This summary is generated from the source document to help you find what is relevant. The PDF above is authoritative. For advice on your own property, use LandLens One or speak to a qualified professional.
Common questions
Does G.O. (Ms.) No. 97 immediately change the permitted use of my property?
No land use change is set out in the document. It grants funding and approval to prepare Hill Area Master Plans for the listed towns and cities.
Which hill areas are included in the planning exercise?
The plans cover Udhagamandalam, Coonoor and Kothagiri, Gudalur, Nelliyalam, Kodaikanal, Valparai and Yercaud.
Will landslide and environmental risks be studied?
Yes. The planned work includes landslide prone areas, topographic and geotechnical conditions, forests, channels, tribal areas and other eco-sensitive areas.
Can the Coimbatore Local Planning Authority fund be used automatically?
No. Use of the Coimbatore Local Planning Authority fund is subject to obtaining permission from the Local Planning Authority.
