Handbook of Landscape

Chapter - 20
Master Plan for Delhi 2021
Environmentally Sustainable Development - Guidelines on Open Spaces in Delhi

Master Plan for Delhi 2021 has attempted to achieve environmentally sustainable development/
re-development considering the limitations of land and water with significantly improved quality
of infrastructure. The main points related to environmentally sustainable development are
elaborated below:
Green/Recreational Areas
Delhi has a much larger green cover than any of the other metropolitan city in the country, and
could well be called “Green City”. The green recreational use constitutes 8,722 ha of land as
per MPD 2001, which is around 19% of the total urban land area of 44,777 ha. This includes
1577 ha. Under the Northern, Central & South Central Ridge (the remaining area of the Ridge
is in the rural area). The balance area under recreational/green use i.e.7145 ha. is in the form
of District Parks, City Parks, Community Parks etc. comprising around the 15% of the total
urban land area. In addition to this, a large chunk of green area is provided in the form of
Neighbourhood Parks /Tot lots in the gross residential use zones, plantations / greens in large
campuses like President’s Estates, JNU, IARI, Delhi University, plantations along drains and
roadside plantations. In addition to above, two Bio-diversity parks are under development by
the DDA.
In the Urban Extension the green cover is to be provided at the rate of 15% of the total land,
excluding the Ridge/Regional Park. Out of this, some area shall be developed in the form of
formal parks for the community and the rest shall be developed as woodlands and incidental
greens for balancing the environment. This will be in addition to the development of specialized
parks like Bio-Diversity Parks, plantation along the roads, drains, riverbanks etc.
Environment
Creation of a sustainable physical and social environment for improving quality of life is one of
the major objectives of the plan. The almost unprecedented scale and speed of urbanization in
Delhi has resulted in enormous pressures on the physical environment with a severe adverse
impact in terms of pollution, and today Delhi is considered to be among the most polluted cities
in the world.
The city’s environment can essentially be seen in terms of two components of urban
management - the environment per se or the habitat, and services management. The pertains
to the natural features and resources including : the elements of air and noise, water (Water
bodies – rivers, lakes, drains and ponds and ground water) and land with reference to open
spaces, green areas and other surface and sub-surface conditions. The latter is related to the
built environment and includes the environmental infrastructure- water supply, sewerage, solid
waste disposal and the transportation network.

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In the above stated background the following three fold approach and strategy will need to be
adopted:
(i) Management of Natural Recourses and the related environment infrastructure and services
in a manner that would lead to optimization of use of natural resources, and reduction/
abatement or pollution.
(ii) Conservation and Development of the Natural features with a view to enhancing their
environmental value; and
(iii) Development and preservation of open spaces, greens and landscape/ recreational areas.
A clear approach towards management of 4 types of wastes generated in Delhi, namely Solid
Waste, Hazardous Waste, Bio-Medical Waste and Electronic Waste should be adopted. The
approach should take into account the need for adopting the Clean Development Mechanism
(CDM) and the awareness of the carbon credits that can be earned and encashed through a
planned and organized mechanism, to be developed for this purpose.
The following critical areas from environmental point of view have been the focal points of the
Master Plan of Delhi 2021:
• Special emphasis on conservation of the Ridge.
• Rejuvenation of River Yamuna through a number of measures including ensuring adequate
flow in river by release of water by riparian states, refurbishment of trunk sewers, treatment
of drains, sewering of unsewered area, treatment of industrials affluent, recycling of treated
effluent and removal of coliforms at STPs.
• Provision of lung spaces/ recreational areas and green belt to the extent of 15 to 20% of
land use.
• Multipurpose grounds: A special category for marriage/ public functions.
• The Master Plan 2021 stipulates that the land up to the depth of one peripheral village
revenue boundary along the border of NCTD, wherever available, would be maintained as
Green belt. 15-20 % of Land is distributed under Green/ Recreational land use.
Green Belt
The plan provides for agricultural land as Green Belt along the border of NCT of Delhi, in
synergy with the provisions of Regional Plan 2021 of NCR. The belt extends from the NCTD
boundary up to a depth of one peripheral revenue village boundary, wherever possible.
Bungalow Area
Lutyens’ Bungalow Zone comprises of large size plots and has a very pleasant green
environment. The essential character of wide avenues, large plots, extensive landscape and
low rise development, has a heritage value which has to be conserved. Mix use high intensity
development along MRTS corridor and de-densification of trees / reduction of green cover is
not permitted at all. The strategy for development in this zone will be as per the approved plans
and the LBZ guidelines, as may be issued by the Government of India from time to time. Civil
lines also has Bungalow area of which the basic character has to be maintained.

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Hierarchy of Urban Development- Provision of Open spaces

S.No. Level Facilities No. Land Area in Sqm

Per Unit Total

1. Housing Area 1.Totlot 20 125 2500

Population
2. Housing Area Park 1 5,000 5,000
5,000
3. Housing Area 1 5,000 5,000
Playground
1 200-300 400-600
4.Aanganwari

2. Neighbourhood 1. Neighbourhood Park 1 10,000 10000

Population 2. Neighbourhood Play 1 5,000-10,000 5,000-

Area 10,000
10,000

3. Community 1.Community Park

Population
a) Park 1 50,000
1,00,000
b)Multipurpose Park/ground 1 20,000

4. District 1.District Park

Population
a) Park 1 2,50,000
5,00,000
b)Multipurpose Park/ground 1 40,000

5. Zonal/Sub City 1. City Park

Population a) Park 1 10,00,000

10,00,000
b)Multipurpose Park/ground 1 80,000

Notes:
• The open space at the Neighbourhood level shall be provided @ 4.5 sqm. per person.
• Minimum size of Tot lot at cluster level shall be 125 sq.m.

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• The location of Schools and Aanganwaris should be made in the lay out plan in cluster
form to facilitate sharing of common parking space and playground.
• Rain water harvesting shall be an integral part of the storm water drainage plan at the time
of sanction of layout plan for all plots.
• The natural drainage pattern is not to be disturbed.
• Dual pipe system of recycled water I recommended in new areas and redevelopment
schemes.
• Dhalaos including facility of segregation of biodegradable and recyclable solid waste should
be provided.
• Non-conventional sources i.e. solar energy etc. is recommended for public areas in all
establishments.
• Suitable landscape plans for the neighbourhood shall be pre4pared, indicating in reasonable
details, the landscape development of the parks and roadside plantation etc.
Infrastructure Requirement for layout at Residential Neighbourhood Level
Use Premises No. of Units As per standard norms (in LSC)
Unit Area(ha) Total Land(ha)
Recreational
(i) Totlot @ 0.50sqm/person 0.0125 0.5
(ii) Housing Area Park 2 0.5 1.0
(iii) Neighbourhood Park 1 1.0 1.0

Planning Norms, Standards for Recreational Areas/Parks at Sub-City Level

Sl. No. Category Planning Norms & Standards

Population/Unit(APPROX.) Plot Area (Ha)
1 City Park 10 lakh 100
2 District Park 5 lakh 25
3 Community Park 1 lakh 5

Planning Norms, Standards for Recreational Areas/Parks at Neighbourhood Level

Sl. No. Category Planning Norms & Standards

Population/Unit (APPROX.) Plot Area (Ha)
1 Neighbourhood Park 10000 1.0
2 Housing Area Park 5000 0.5
3 Tot lot at Housing Cluster Level 250 0.025

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Planning Norms, Standards for Multipurpose Grounds

Sl. No. Category Planning Norms & Standards

Population/Unit (APPROX.) Plot Area (Ha)
1 City Multipurpose Ground 10 lakh 8
2 District Multipurpose Ground 5 lakh 4
3 Community Multipurpose Ground 1 lakh 2
Other Controls:
1. Minimum 50% of total area shall be under Soft Parking and remaining 50% shall be utilized
for activities.
2. Minimum 3% of the remaining area (excluding Soft Park area) shall be utilized for Electric
Sub Station, Toilets, Security and other marriage related activities etc.
3. Multipurpose Ground can be sub-divided suitably with minimum of 0.5 ha of plot area to
accommodate number of functions at one time.
4. Park Multipurpose Ground shall have provisions for rainwater harvesting.
Permission of Use Premises in Sub Use Zone
Sl. No. Use Zone Activities Permitted
1 Green Belt Forest, Agriculture use, Vegetation belt, Dairy Forms, Piggery, Poultry
farms, Farm house, Wild life sanctuary, Biodiversity Park, Veterinary
Centre, Police Post, Fire Post, Smriti Van, Plant Nursery, Orchard,
Area for water-harvesting, Floriculture farm, Open Playground, Agro
Forestry, Amenity structureExisting village Abadis, already
regularized Unauthorised colonies & already approved Motels may
continue.
2 Regional Park Ridge, Residential Flats (for watch & ward), Picnic Hut, Park,
Shooting Range, Zoological Garden, Bird Sanctuary, Botanical
Garden, Local Govt. Office (Maintenance), Open Air Theatre, Police
Post, Fire Post, Orchard, Plant Nursery and Forest.Approved Farm
Houses sanctioned prior to 01.08.90 may continue.
3 City Park Aqua Park/water sport park, Arboretum, Botanical Garden, National
Memorial (approved by Cabinet/Govt. of India), Amphitheatre, Open
Playground, and Aquarium. Other activities same as permitted in
District Park. 30% of the area shall be developed with plantation of
native species
4 District Park District Park, Theme Park, Recreational Club, National Memorial,
Open-air food court, Children Park, Orchard, Plant Nursery, Area
for water-harvesting, Archaeology Park, Specialized Park,
Amusement Park, Children Traffic Park, Sports activity, Playground,

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Amenity structures.Restaurants in a District Park having an area

above 25 Ha, subject to following :
(a) Area of the restaurant plot shall not be more than 0.8 Ha or 1%
of the District Park, whichever is less.
(b) Restaurant plot shall have no physical segregation from the rest
of the District Park area.
(c) The building shall be a single storey structure with max. FAR of
5 and height not more than 4m. without any residential facility
and to harmonize with the surroundings.
(d) In case there is no parking lot in the vicinity, parking should be
provided at a reasonable distance from the restaurant complex
/ green.e 30% of the area shall be developed as dense platform.
5 Community Park Park, Children Park, Open- air food court, Playground etc.
6 Multipurpose Public meeting ground, Public address podium, Social functions,
Ground Soft drink and snack stalls etc.

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