Tamil Nadu moves Bill to do away with Collector’s concurrence for wetland development in non-planning areas
The Bill was opposed by the AIADMK, CPI and CPI(M). The DMK and PMK sought a debate for further clarification.
On Tuesday, September 1, 2026, the Tamil Nadu Assembly introduced a Bill aimed at amending the Town and Country Planning Act of 1971. The proposed legislation seeks to eliminate the need for the District Collector's prior consent for wetland development in non-planning areas, and grant the Director the authority to grant such permissions.
The bill was opposed by the AIADMK, CPI and CPI(M) parties. The DMK and PMK requested a debate for further clarification. Introducing the Bill, Housing and Urban Development Minister B. Rajkumar stated that the requirement for the District Collector's prior approval had resulted in unnecessary delays in processing and granting planning permissions.
Section 47-A, Sub-section (2) of the Tamil Nadu Act of 1972 mandates that a local authority obtain the prior approval of the Director before granting permission for land development in non-planning areas. This requirement also extends to wetlands. The Bill also seeks to appoint a full-time Chairman and Member-Secretary to the Urban Development Authority, while retaining the District Collector as a member to ensure effective coordination with the district administration.
The creation of these posts is necessary to ensure focused, continuous, and accountable decision-making in spatial planning, infrastructure development, land development, implementation of development schemes, and regulation of urban growth.
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