New master plan cuts Kodai's green line

As per the master plan – 2021, prepared by the DTCP, which was released recently, 1,121.80 hectare is earmarked for the non-urban area. This includes reserved forest, agricultural lands, land under water (water bodies), prohibited area, parks, play-fields and open spaces.

Tourism also has been given a boost as the new master plan allows modification of buildings as home-stay establishments. Number of tourists visiting the hill station has grown to 71,00,000 in 2017 from 12,58,273 tourists in 2000. The master plan estimates the projected population of 42,000 in 2021. During 2011, the Kodaikanal had a population of 36,501.

“Even though the master plan – 2003 was prepared and implemented for Kodaikanal, the government has directed the DTCP to prepare master plan in line with the Ooty master plan. We have prepared a draft before finalising the plan by including suggestions and objections,” a DTCP official said.

The master plan – 2003 had earmarked 75.70 per cent of total 2,145 hectares of land in Kodaikanal as ‘non-urban use’ zone. Meanwhile, the new master plan earmarks 23.49 per cent of the land for the residential zone. The master plan -2003, had allowed residential development in only 12.92 per cent of the land.

Nearly 8 per cent of the land has been earmarked for the transportation developments, while 3.35 per cent for educational use.

The master plan also directed the local authorities to adhere with the Tamil Nadu District Municipalities (Hill Station) Building Rules 1993.

Despite the DTCP expands residential use zone, the height of the buildings should not exceed 10 meters or three floors. Building a prohibited zone comprises the areas of 200 meters and 100 meters around the boundary of Kodaikanal Lake and Gymkhana Ground.

“As of now, we have prepared a master plan for the Kodaikanal town. We have taken up the work for preparing Kodaikanal Composite Local Planning Area, which comprises the entire Kodaikanal taluk,” the official added.