Uncertainty surrounds SUDA Master Plan as Govt. expands its jurisdiction

The project was taken up by Bengaluru based Center for Symbiosis of Technology, Environment and Management, (STEM) in consortium with AARVEE Associates, Hyderabad, as the lead.

Khammam: Uncertainty surrounds the Stambhadri Urban Development Authority (SUDA) Master Plan with the recent orders issued by the State government expanding its limits.

It might be noted that the previous BRS government had initiated a project in November 2019 to prepare a Geographic Information System (GIS) based Master Plan for the horizon year 2041. The project was taken up by Bengaluru based Center for Symbiosis of Technology, Environment and Management, (STEM) in consortium with AARVEE Associates, Hyderabad, as the lead.

---

The draft Master Plan was readied in November 2021 after analysing GIS base maps, by comparing available secondary data, carrying out primary surveys wherever necessary and several consultations with concerned stakeholders.

The area of the Master Plan was 536 square kilometres covering Khammam Corporation and 46 gram panchayats in seven mandals; Wyra, Khammam Rural, Kusumanchi, Mudigonda, Chintakani, Konijerla and Raghunathapalem. The Master Plan currently being used by the Khammam Municipal Corporation has been prepared only for an area of 33 square kilometers

SUDA has a population of 7, 18,054, which in the next 20 years was expected to increase to 13, 70,145. Keeping this in mind, the Master Plan was prepared by taking into account factors like land use zoning and general development promotion regulations, land requirements, water availability, roads, infrastructure and other aspects.

When preparations were being made for notifying the Master Plan the government changed. The Congress government in October issued a GO MS No: 185 expanding the SUDA limits including Madhira and Sathupalli municipalities and 279 villages, excluding the agency villages in the district designating the area as ‘Development Area’.
Now the question remains to be answered is whether the government notifies the SUDA draft Master Plan already prepared or would take up another project to prepare a Master Plan for the area specified in the above GO.

Speaking to Telangana Today, former SUDA chairman B Vijay Kumar noted that the government has failed to maintain clarity while issuing the GO 185. The government should have clearly stated its plans with regard to the expansion of the SUDA limits whether it would prepare another Master Plan for the extended area.

He wanted the district ministers, Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka, Ponguleti Srinivas Reddy and Tummala Nageswara Rao to take the initiative either to notify the Master Plan already prepared or to take steps to prepare a Master Plan as specified in the GO.