In a bid to streamline the setting up of ventures like amusement parks, 5-star hotels, resorts in agriculture zones of the State, the BJP-JJP led Haryana Government has come out with a new change of land use (CLU) policy.

The policy, approved by the Governor, has been formulated by the Town and Country Planning Department.

The new policy, which is framed in continuation to the government’s guidelines issued last year for granting permission for a CLU to establish projects like drive-in theatres, sports academies and banquet halls outside municipal limits, will keep a check on haphazard growth of illegal buildings in agriculture zones besides boosting investments.

Keeping in view the interest of landowners and investors, who are keen to set up such projects, the policy defines parameters like minimum and maximum area for setting up these projects, commercial component, maximum ground coverage, floor area ratio and access norms.

“After careful consideration by the State Government, the policy for granting CLU in a controlled area for setting up of a restaurant, motel, hotel, resort, amusement park and theme park in the agriculture zone has been framed. For such projects, the access permission is required from NHAI, if the site is located on national highway whereas if the site is located on scheduled road then the permission is required from XEN, PWD (B&R),” the policy stated.

The policy allows setting up a resort, amusement park or theme park in the agriculture zone in a minimum area of 2.5 acres while there is no limit for maximum area. The floor area ratio allowed is 0.5 and the maximum ground coverage is 30 percent while the commercial component will be 15 percent.

The conversion charges for the area under 15 percent commercial component of the amusement park will be charged at commercial rates and for the balance area, conversion charges applicable for recreational use shall be charged. For setting up a 5-star hotel, the policy allows a minimum area of 4 acres while maximum area will be 10 acres. The floor area ratio allowed is 0.75, the maximum ground coverage is 30 percent while the commercial component will be 15 percent.

For motel or hotel along the national highways and scheduled roads with or without banquet facilities, the policy allows a minimum area of 2000 sqm and a maximum of 5 acre area while  allowing floor area ratio of 1.0, maximum ground coverage of 30 percent and the commercial component of 15 percent.

Similarly, for setting up hotels other than located abutting national highways and scheduled roads, minimum area allowed will be  one acre, maximum would be three acres with maximum ground coverage of 40 percent while other norms remain the same. The minimum area allowed for constructing a restaurant in agriculture zone will be 1000 Sqm, while maximum is 2000 Sqm with maximum ground coverage of 30 percent, 1.0 floor area ratio and commercial component of 15 percent.

As per the policy, the parking facility for vehicles has to be made available within the premises.

Notably, the State Government had recently released another new policy for granting CLU for  setting up of the industrial clusters and units in the agricultural zones across the state.