Master Plan (Preparation, Publication and Sanction) Rules (1983)
The Governor of Tamil Nadu made the Master Plan (Preparation, Publication and Sanction) Rules through G.O.Ms.No. 652, Rural Development and Local Administration, dated 8 April 1975, under the Tamil Nadu Town and Country Planning Act, 1971. The rules govern how local planning authorities prepare, publish, consult on and obtain government approval for master plans, and they were later amended, including amendments published in 1985 and 1989.
What the rules govern
The Master Plan (Preparation, Publication and Sanction) Rules set the process for preparing and approving master plans for local planning areas. They assign responsibilities to local planning authorities, the Director, regional planning authorities, local authorities and the Government of Tamil Nadu.
The rules are procedural. They do not themselves assign a particular land use to an individual property. A landowner or buyer may be affected when a draft or approved master plan covers the property and identifies the predominant use of the surrounding area.
Preparation of maps and plans
A local planning authority must prepare or adopt a land and building use map for the planning area. The map must show predominant uses under categories including:
- Residential, commercial and industrial uses.
- Public and semi-public uses.
- Transport, services and utilities.
- Recreation and agriculture.
- Other uses, including undeveloped areas, water bodies, waste land and rocky land.
The local planning authority must then prepare a draft master plan in consultation with the regional planning authority, relevant local authorities and the Director. The Government may direct the plan to include adjoining or nearby areas.
Publication and public participation
After receiving government consent for publication, the local planning authority must publish notice of the draft master plan in Form 1 and invite objections or suggestions from affected or interested persons. Notices relating to master plans must be republished through specified public channels, including notice boards, the District Gazette and one or more leading daily newspapers circulating in the local planning area.
Key consultation steps include:
- Sending objections and suggestions, with the authority's remarks, to the Director for advice.
- Giving a reasonable opportunity to be heard to people and government representatives who request it.
- Considering written objections, oral representations and the Director's advice before approving the draft, with or without changes.
Government approval and later changes
The approved draft is submitted through the Director to the Government of Tamil Nadu. The Government may approve it, approve it with modifications, return it for modification or require a fresh plan.
Government approval must be published, and the local planning authority must republish the notification. The consultation and approval process also applies to a government-ordered review. The Government may vary or revoke a master plan, with the change or revocation notified in the Tamil Nadu Government Gazette and republished through the prescribed channels.
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
Do these rules directly change the permitted use of my land?
The rules establish the process for preparing, publishing and approving master plans. The land and building use map and the resulting master plan may identify the predominant use applying to the area containing your property.
Can I object to a draft master plan affecting my property?
Yes. The local planning authority must publish a notice inviting objections or suggestions from affected or interested persons within the period stated in Form 1.
Can I ask to be heard before the draft master plan is approved?
Yes. Before its approval meeting, the local planning authority must ensure that a reasonable opportunity to be heard is given to a person who has requested it.
Where should notices about a master plan be available?
The rules require republication through channels including the relevant District Gazette, designated government and local authority notice boards, and one or more leading daily newspapers circulating in the local planning area.
