Total collapse of habitat planning annoys court

patna: a division bench of the patna high court comprising chief justice ravi s dhavan and justice d p s chaudhary berated the state government on tuesday for the total collapse of the habitat planning in the state. it observed that the omissions and commissions of the government had transformed patna and other urban centres of the state into that of urban slums.resuming its hearing on the petition of r usha and others, who had complained about illegal constructions in patna in connivance with the patna regional development authority, the bench requested the council of architecture to examine the violation of the master plan and the urban planning laws in patna. the bench said it proposes constitution of a committee, steered by independent professionals, to oversee the planning in the state under the architects act, 1972. chief secretary s n biswas and law secretary rajendra prasad were present till the end of the hearing. the bench noted the absence of the urban development secretary. the bench observed that the constitution casts an obligation on the state to plan habitats and seek the participation of people’s representatives. it maintained that the authorities are enjoined to invite objection and take them into account while planning. without the participation of people’s representatives, the authorities may not have the sanction to function, it added. the bench observed that urban planning with people’s participation is a part of the democracy as envisaged in the constitution. it may be mentioned that bihar has been without any local self-government for over a decade. the court observed that significant aspects noticed in the 12th schedule of the constitution include urban planning, regulation of land use and construction of building, planning of social and economic development, water supply and public health.