TAMIL NADU NATIONAL LAW UNIVERSITY, TIRUCHIRAPPALLI

Submitted for the internal assessment for the course of

B.Com., LL.B. (Hons.) – Second Semester

Academic Year: 2020-2021

Subject: Economics- I

Regional Planning in India

Course Faculty: Dr. Thomas Felix K., Submitted By:

Assistant Professor, Ms. Udhithaa S K Kota, (BC0200050)

TNNLU

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 DECLARATION

I Udhithaa S K Kota, Register Number BC0200050, hereby declare that this Research Paper /
Research Project work entitled Regional Planning in India has been originally carried out by
me under the guidance and supervision of Dr. Thomas Felix K., Assistant Professor of Law,
Tamil Nadu National Law University, Tiruchirappalli - 620 027. This work has not been
submitted either in whole or in part of any Degree / Diploma at any University.

Place: Tiruchirappalli

Date: 26.05.2021 Udhithaa S K Kota

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 Table of Contents

S.n Title Pg.no

o
1. Introduction 4

2. Research Objectives 5

3. Review of literature 5

4. Research Methodology 6

5. Regional Planning: An initiative 6

6. What constitutes for a region? 7

7. Planning Regions in India 9

8. Need for Regional Planning in India 11

9. Change in Nature of Regional Plans 12

10. Programmes and Policies in India 12

11. Conclusion 14

12. Bibliography 14

REGIONAL PLANNING IN INDIA

INTRODUCTION

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The features of both rural and urban settlements in India are constantly changing and
so it is necessary for the government authorities to react bearing in mind these
changes. The prime stimulant that gave an impetus to regional planning in India was
the expeditious growth of urbanization and the rapid shift of India from an agrarian
society to a more industrialised society that took place in the post-independence
period. Besides the shift of population from rural regions towards urban towns, the
widening of disparities amongst regions in both rural and urban areas specifically in
terms of amassing of economic potential and capabilities.

Alternatively planning was also exercised in the form of intermittent projects in the
past such as neighbourhood beautification, as a result of which a paradigm shift was
required from this methodology of approach towards one that is comprehensive both
economically and socially. It was also necessary to have an exhaustive approach (with
regard to economical, physical and social dimensions), upgraded planning strategies
for improved quality of plans and to target practical and attainable standards .
Although at first the idea of consolidation between physical planning and economic
planning was not present, later this integration was deemed to be imperative.

A planning region is an area that is large enough to be capable to implement

substantial changes in population distribution and employment within the demarcated
administrative boundaries and at the same time small to such an extent for its
problems related to planning to be viewed as a whole. Regional Planning encompasses
all the procedures to formulate and translate environmental, spatial and economic
objectives in the integration of activities in space in a unified level such as districts,
villages, sub urban and urban regions in accordance to space, environmental regions in
accordance with the topology of regions and states in terms of dynamic functional
resources and territoriality.

Administrative convenience is given preponderant importance while defining regions

for the sake of planning purposes. A homogenous economic structure along with
socio-cultural and topographical homogeneity is also necessary. Distortions in
planning can erupt if nodality is not considered. This is because the administrative
boundaries, homogeneity and nodality that exist are factors that are hard to ignore
while implementing development plans and should be dealt with a proper strike in
balance.

RESEARCH OBJECTIVES:

 To understand the concept of ‘region’ specifically and its various connotations.

 To discern the importance of regional planning in India.
 To find out the major schemes and development programmes related to regional
planning in India.
 To delineate the types of planning most suitable to India.

REVIEW OF LITERATURE:

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Chand, Mahesh, and Puri, Vinay Kumar. Regional Planning in India. India, Allied
Publishers, 1983.

This book places special emphasis on providing an approach that covers all aspects of
regional planning by giving importance to intricate details suggested by various Indian
scholars. It highlights problems specifically found in India such as regional imbalances, rural
development, backward area development and tribal area development. This provides the
necessary orientation to the directions in which regional planning is relevant. The author has
embraced to entirety of regional planning in India, by applying systematic treatment for
analysis.

Bhat, L. S. “Regional Planning in India.” Sankhyā: The Indian Journal of Statistics,

Series B (1960-2002), vol. 32, no. 3/4, 1970, pp. 391–546. JSTOR,
www.jstor.org/stable/25051736. Accessed 7 May 2021.

This journal article briefs us about the spatial dimensions that exist in regional as well as the
national planning in India. The author also introduces us on how to approach regional
planning at the national level. For the purpose of a practical approach, the region of South
India has been taken as a case study in order to analyse micro regional planning. The author
has also elucidated regional planning in the Western Ghats region of the State of Mysore. He
also throws light on the issues that rise in the course of regional development. It traces the
history of development that has occurred in India with respect to regional planning.

Jacobson, Leo, and Ted Prakash. “URBANIZATION AND REGIONAL PLANNING

IN INDIA.” Ekistics, vol. 25, no. 148, 1968, pp. 158–165. JSTOR,
www.jstor.org/stable/43621647. Accessed 7 May 2021.

This journal summarizes the committed efforts of the Indian Government in terms of the
development of the economy with the help of regional planning strategies and methodologies.
It also briefly explains policies regarding spatial consequences such as industrial
decentralisation. The author also puts forward the differences in approaches with respect to
rural and urban areas in terms of social, economic and political factors. The journal also
produces a planned strategy for urbanized regional planning in India and lays down the
procedures step by step for the same purpose.

Misra, Rameshwar Prasad, Kavasseri Vanchi Sundaram, and V. L. S. Prakasa

Rao. Regional development planning in India. A new strategy. Vikas Publishing House,
1974.

The book talks about studies dealing with regional planning in India. Both aspects of theory
as well as practical methods have been detailed. Decentralized polarization as a concept has
been introduced, tailored to the socio-economic needs of a country like India which is
densely populated. Regional disparities along with reforms in government policies have been
explicated in order to tackle the existing problems.

RESEARCH METHODOLOGY:

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To write this paper I have employed the doctrinal method of research. I have referred to
books, journal articles, research papers, and official government papers as well to write this
paper. Several reputed websites have also been referred to, for the purpose of the completion
of this project.

SCOPES AND LIMITATIONS:

This paper embarks on highlighting the importance of regional planning with specific
emphasis on how it will help in the upliftment of backward regions by providing policies
targeted towards these regions. The suggestions made are purely predicted and the scope is
limited to this. The information gathered in this research paper is limited to being collected
only from online sources and hence, it might not give certain intricate details.

REGIONAL PLANNING: AN INITIATIVE

The significance of regional planning in India has been recognised at different stages and
levels of planning. The existing regional disparities in India can largely be attributed to the
multitude of diversity in physical/topographical features as well as the socio-cultural and
historical aspects. In order to impede the planning process, owing to the large regional
disparities various politicians, policy makers, planners and economists have stressed upon the
need for channels and commissions to be set up for the pursuance of goals determined
previously. In India regional planning should be talked at a larger scale with respect to
strategic indications for land usage of the region, spatial development that encompasses urban
and rural areas as well. During the course of the initial Five-Year plans, spatial development
was stressed upon in order to achieve balance in regional development, for which regions
were specifically identified in India. However exigent attention must be placed on the
recurring issues that have come up in the past in order to address them effectively in the
future for effective development in planning. These problems are as follows:

 Regions should be delineated both geographically (contiguous units with an

exception of sub divisions like hills, plains etc) and administratively with appropriate
linkages and access functionally in a satisfactory manner. In terms of administration,
there should be sufficient coordination amongst the centre, state and local bodies for
the achievement of realistic environmental and economic appraisal.
 The size of the region should be demarcated in such a way where the participation of
the members locally in matters concerning development should be feasible for the
accurate distribution and development of services and infrastructural amenities. For
this multiple growth points within a region are recommended.
 A single agency for administration is ideal as it will reduce the possibilities of
confusion and conflicts, for which an economic existence with statistical data needs
to be assessed. Cultural cohesiveness should be practised preferably within the region
for the same reasons. The region should also be capable to be recognised as a
separate region for data analysis as well as data collection. Homogeneity in economic
structures makes it easier for further planning and development, i.e., diversification in
terms of employment, agriculture and services should be minimal.

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WHAT CONSTITUTES FOR A REGION?

During the late 1960’s, we witnessed a transition both economically and politically
worldwide and at that point of time the connotations behind the idea of “region” has been a
subject of debate and ambiguity by multiple academic scholars of certain social sciences and
economists as well. Since the concept of what precisely constitutes a “region” has had
perspectives that are multidimensional, it eventually came out to become a focal point in the
comprehensive process of planning. Consequently, the idea of “regional planning” became a
subject of high importance in fields pertaining to developmental activities especially.
Therefore, the scales at which the idea behind “region” is debated has developed from merely
a sub nation to nations and from countries to continents. Such an idea was first traceable back
to the census of India in 1942, during the Coupland scheme where it was proposed that the
country would broadly be separated into four regions based on fundamental
economic/geographic principles. Besides this, there have been numerous attempts to define a
“region” that have been formulated by various organisations and ministries, in isolation.

Inevitably there will always be certain number of differences and limitations in the different
types of regions identified so far. While dealing with this concept it becomes important to
address as to how we conceptualise what a region is, including its variations and patterns
from India’s point of view, considering its primordial population. It becomes pertinent to
understand how the problems which are confronted by these communities can be
incorporated into the course of regional planning.

According to recent literature the idea behind “region”- and as a consequence of which
“regionalisation” and “regionalism”- has shown some compliance around the denotations. It
has been framed from the views of various geographical, cultural, social, economic and
political factors and has therefore been explicated either as a combination or any of the
aspects in specific such as “governance principles that are shared, geographical boundaries
and closeness, mutual rights on common resources, shared culture, characteristics of
homogeneity and mutual connection.

However, in order to reconcile all these differences with respect to disparities in the levels of
economy and economical resources, which is not surprising for a country like India due to its
unnatural size and its long history of political colonisers and administrators, it is necessary to
identify the administrative machinery and pursue economic development that is in
compliance with the administrative structure rendered in that region. According to the State
Reorganisation Commission, the demarcation of boundaries of divisions within economic
zones and states in accordance with principles pertaining to regional delimitation were
considered pre-requisite for effective regional planning. This was elucidated by considering
electricity, irrigation and transportation as examples which require coordination amongst
states as well as planning with a regional approach to it.

Evolution of region as a concept:

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The idea of using regions as a basis for classification can be traced to find its evolution that
took place in two distinct phases. The reflection of an advancing economy from merely an
agrarian economy to an industrialised economy can be witnessed. The first phase was largely
dominated by formal regions that were founded upon the concept of homogeneity, whereas
the second phase were marked with functional regions developing dominated by the concept
of functional coherence.

FORMAL
REGIONS

FUNCTIONAL

Natural
FORM AL

Economic

Social

There are certain combinations of the above-mentioned criteria in formal regions that help in
differentiating and identifying them. Similarly functional regions also have certain
combinations on how they mix together with respect to the criteria mentioned, thus helping in
indicating such regions.

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 FUNCTIONAL Commodity

Information

Capital

PLANNING REGIONS IN INDIA:

Planning regions can be thought of as a conceptual tool that serves as the spatial unit for
formulating and implementing development plans. Consequently the features of the principal
development programmes as well as the objectives of the development plans are to be
demarcated accordingly keeping in mind the above factors. Generally, the planning regions
are determined based upon the politico-administrative structure of the entire country as the
Government of the nation is involved in the major part of planning programmes.
Consequently, it is preferable to consider territorial divisions as the dominant part of planning
regions because it becomes easier to identify the contradictions and similarities of economic
relationships between the areas that fall under these administrative regions. The expansion of
existing departments and agencies or by bringing in additional departments the development
agencies can be established. Although it is evident that planning regions besides this will also
be crucial, it will only be established to merely supplement or replace the already existing
administrative regions.

In India the responsibility of planning is done concurrently by both the Central Government
as well as the State Governments, the primary units being the Union territories and States
along with districts, blocks and villages acting as principal units of administration. There are
representatives from the people of that area, administrative arrangements and institutional
arrangements for the implementation and execution of plans.

A Geographers point of view

According to geographers regions are those that consist of either noncontagious or contagious
spatial entities that share common features with each other with respect to certain criteria
(one or more). ‘Formal regions’ were a major part of the study that existed in regional

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geography and were segregated on the basis of the existence or non-existence of specific
distinguishing features. Emphasis was given to the delineation of regions on the absence or
presence of one or more criteria depending upon the need for such a delineation to be made,
thereby resulting in emerging “multifactor regions” or “composite regions”. For example
“agricultural regions” were dependent upon criteria like combination of crops, agricultural
productivity and the intensity of cropping and “social welfare regions” were identified on the
basis of the degree of accessibility to water, sanitation, health facilities, educational
infrastructure etc. To put it concisely, geographers brought a regional approach into
geography by simply identifying and defining what a region is to begin with.

A regional hierarchy is implied while talking about the regional concept and the planning that
goes behind it and it becomes essential especially for India considering how the resources are
distributed in an uneven fashion and also the contrasting characteristics when it comes to
approaching problems in regional development. This can be elaborated by taking the example
of industrialisation as a concept that involves both heavy and basic industries. The regional
dimensions involved, i.e., national, regional and local are largely localised in nature in order
to accommodate to the most appropriate conditions required. Another point of view is that the
North eastern plateau known for its rich mineral resources was divided between the States of
Maharashtra, West Bengal, Madhya Pradesh, Orissa and Bihar but has to be considered as a
major single reason for the sake of development of resources.

However it was clarified that a regional plan with more detailing and specifics must be
formulated to be in line with norms laid down for specialisation in accordance with what is
envisaged by the national plan. The idea of functional inter dependence between two or more
regions was given emphasis. Another aspect put forward by geographers are with respect to
agricultural development in India. A regional approach was deemed necessary because of the
wide range of distribution all over the country and consequently the regional variations that
arise according to the cropping patterns and physical, topographical and soil conditions.
Although land use patterns are largely influenced and sometimes dominated by institutional
and economic factors, for long-term planning the land usage pattern should be fundamentally
influenced and adapted to the physical conditions of that specific region. Along with this,
another regional problem that is dependent on the physical conditions is the integrational
development of land use that exists between forestry, cropped land, grazing and grass. To
resolve such regional issues, stipulated systematic studies are recommended by geographers.
Therefore, after considering the wide range of diversity that is prevalent in regional factors as
well as the planning problems envisaged by the context of the overall national economic
development in planning, it is agreed that it is desirable to have at least a basic regional
framework for further resource development in accordance to the demarcated administrative
boundaries.

NEED FOR REGIONAL PLANNING IN INDIA:

 Regional planning serves the purpose of the integration of larger or wider areas for the
overall development of the “region.” In other words it integrates rural areas into the
picture for the development of regions in a balanced manner.

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  With the growing scarcity of resources, environmental pollution, deteriorating public
health and education, underdeveloped international trade and water scarcity, along
with welfare to be done regional planning with an approach that is inclusive in nature
becomes inevitable. In other words, it allows for facilitation.
 On one hand it brings focus on how the needs of regions that are backward can be
fulfilled, and on the other hand it emphasises on how high order services can be
integrated into comparatively developed areas. Necessary goods and resources are
formulated and strategized in such a way that it is optimally utilised to all regions
according to stipulated requirements.
 The degree of competition, demand and conflict of resources drastically reduces. By
decreasing the pressure over resources in high order towns and with the development
of rural (or) small towns and satellite towns, it becomes much more efficient for any
further development.
 Regional planning considers other factors like social responsibility or environmental
restrictions, economic and spatial goals and brings it up in the national forum by
addressing these issues. As we understood earlier, scrutinising functional linkages
after keeping in mind national priorities along with integrated development at the
State and National level is one of the major weapons to attain the growth that has been
desired.
 Regional planning requires emphasis on the formulation of policies for specific
regions, which is later elucidated by laying down objectives suitable to regions from
different areas. They differ from one region to another and thus should be carefully
developed. This is not the same as city planning as they depend on land use plans as
opposed to regional plans.
 Land use plans that are put into force for cities in general, often come in contradiction
with the policies developed for regional planning so it becomes necessary for a new
body to be established in regions that helps in the coordination of departments that
work independently of each other, especially when both local bodies and
developmental authorities work together.
 It results in reduced disparities as forced migration is no more necessary, as a result of
which transportation costs are cut down. Shifting from one place to another for the
sake of employment opportunities will come down, because with development comes
ample job opportunities as well.
 Planning systematically helps in attracting investments that helps in the growth of that
region, thereby making it easier for establishing SEZ’s (or) Special Economic Zones
and ensuring economic stability.

CHANGE IN NATURE OF REGIONAL PLANS:

In the beginning, regional planning was merely seen as an extension of town planning. Both
theoretically and conceptually, it was viewed as an extended for of urban planning. The
regional planning done for a region was viewed as the same as preparing a master plan for the
entire city. As years passed by it included preparing for judicious mobility of people, services
and goods between production and consumption regions or areas. As a result of which

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transportation planning and planning for the purpose of traffic pattern in a regional scale
became a significant factor of a regional plan. Consequently, comprehensive regional
development plans that integrated and coordinated the social, economic and physical
elements became a part of regional planning. This integrity that depended on the irrigation
pattern could either be inter regional or intra-regional.

Subsequently, in the years that passed by decentralisation was seen as a consequence of high
concentration of industries and the rapid urbanization in a single urban centre. This developed
as a jump from river valley development to decentralisation or the dispersion of industries,
and later the devolution of the administration of planning. In places of conflicts that rose out
of areas with large disparities with respect to development, administrative jurisdictions and
resource patterns- regional planning was advocated strongly.

REGIONAL PLANNING- Programmes and Policies in India

The timeline that existed between 1947-1951 witnessed problems related to the rehabilitation,
migration and settlement of refugees which also included people who were displaced from
Pakistan. Subsequently, the initiation of certain programmes was concentrated and directed
upon settlements in urban regions in which a large number of refugee townships were
constructed that provided job opportunities in the fields related to industry, commerce and
trade.

Five Year Plans

The First Five-Year plan and Second Five-year Plan that lasted between 1951 to 1961, placed
emphasis on attaining industrialization and urbanisation as well. Regional development
strategies during the first five-year plan included launching Multipurpose Projects for specific
economic activities. The States were broadly divided into five divisions which was deemed to
be the first attempt towards regional planning. The focus of regional development planning
was shifted to the agricultural sector as the issue of resettlement of refugees, shortage of food
and inflation were still prevalent.

The Third Five Year Plan that lasted between 1961 to 1965 emphasized on preparing
development plans comprehensively for river valleys, industrial towns growing rapidly,
resource regions and metropolitan centres as well. It aimed for regional development in a
balanced manner in with respect to areas of high and low economic concentration and
between rural and urban areas as well, with an aim to decrease interstate disparities. The
establishment of Growth points and Growth centres were witnessed as a methodology to
reduce further disparities. The ultimate end was supposedly to attain a self-sustained
economy with the encouragement of ideas like self-reliance and a self-generating economy.
Certain priority areas where there was an immediate necessity for the preparation of regional
plans were sparked off by relocating large scale industries and multipurpose river valley
projects. The regions that were specially identified were as follows:

 The Rihand Region

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  The Dandakaranya Region
 The Rajasthan Canal Region
 The Damodar River Valley Region
 The Bhakra-Nangal Region

The Fourth Five Year Plan that existed between 1966 to 1971 limited the growth of large
urban areas like Delhi, Kolkata and Mumbai. Instead it concentrated on the reconstruction
and strengthening of the administration in local areas. Local areas were to be restructured in a
way that it made them capable to cope up with the emerging problem of rapid urbanisation.
This phase was a watershed year for the development of regional planning as specialised
programmes like the Rural Electrification Corporation (REC), Drought Prone Area Program
(DADP) and the Small Farmer Development Agency (SFDA) were launched during the
Fourth Five Year plan.

The Fifth Five Year Plan that existed between 1971 to 1976 was largely founded on the
concept of decentralisation and continued in the subsequent plans. Elimination of poverty by
limiting regional disparities with an emphasis on special area approach was a new element
put forward. This special area approach was done across various fields like drinking water
facilities, soil conservation, farming, construction of roads, livestock, afforestation and dairy
farming as well.

Regional Development through Five Year Plans

Regional development with respect to the Five-Year plans that were laid down were aimed at
increasing the standard of living, and consequently the national income of the country. The
objectives included growing the potential of employment opportunities in various sectors,
rapid industrialisation in heavy industries and basic sectors as well. Self-reliance was to be
achieved by decreasing foreign aid and increasing the country’s capability independently
over a period of time. Reduction in inequalities with respect to horizontal inequality (in this
context region specific) and vertical inequalities in the form of differentiation and level of
authority between the Centre, State and Panchayati level.

Regional projects at the Micro Level planning focussed on developing underdeveloped

regions specifically. Few of the Micro Level Regional Development Plan projects that
emerged recently are as follows:

 Bharat Mala Project

 Granting the status of Special Category State to some backward and underdeveloped
state.
 Sagar Mala project
 Jhabua district watershed development program

Regional planning processes that were initiated during the post-independence period at the
Micro Level for the purpose of multipurpose projects include the following:

 Kerala Kuttanad Development Planning

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  Indira Gandhi Canal
 Damodar Valley Corporation
 Rajasthan Desert Development Regional Planning
 Bundelkhan Regional Planning
 Vidarbha and Telangana Regional Planning

A hundred percent of financial assistance was provided by the Central Government to all the
States that indulged in taking up such projects.

CONCLUSION:

Regional planning in India involves the methodologies used to conduct spatial planning and
other developmental activities. The range of the scope of involving professional practice in
the process of planning has become immense. It has evolved to include wider dimensions like
research, development management, training, education, real estate development, arbitration
and advice besides the conventional land use planning that prevailed at national, urban and
regional levels. The practices involved in exercising this can vary in public and private
sectors. The ambiguity behind the term “region” has given rise to different ideas by different
thinkers, as a result of which multiple regional approaches have emerged. Despite the
arbitrary usage of the term, it is necessary to develop this term based on three major factors,
i.e., homogeneity, polarization (or) nodality and programming (or) policy orientation based
upon the characteristics of the subject area under scrutiny for regional development and
administrative convenience even though it is not mutually exclusive. Therefore, it can be
conclusively said that such inter-dependent factors should be collated for optimal usage of
economic resources and also for the future regional development programmes.

REFERENCES:

1) King, Robin A., Sujaya Rathi, and H. S. Sudhira. "An approach to regional planning in
India." International Journal of System of Systems Engineering 3.2 (2012): 117-128.

2) Jacobson, Leo, and Ted Prakash. “URBANIZATION AND REGIONAL PLANNING IN

INDIA.” Ekistics, vol. 25, no. 148, 1968, pp. 158–165. JSTOR, www.jstor.org/stable/43621647.
Accessed 30 Apr. 2021.

3) Chand, Mahesh, and Vinay Kumar Puri. Regional planning in India. Vol. 1. Allied Publishers,
1983.

4) Chaudhuri, Jayasri Ray. An introduction to development and regional planning: with special
reference to India. Orient Blackswan, 2001.

5) Balakrishna, Ramachandra. Regional planning in India. Bangalore Printing and Publishing Co

Ltd, Bangalore, 1948.

6) Wood, Jack. "Development of Urban and Regional Planning in India." Land Economics 34.4

(1958): 310-315.

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7) King, Robin A., Sujaya Rathi, and H. S. Sudhira. "An approach to regional planning in
India." International Journal of System of Systems Engineering 3.2 (2012): 117-128.

8) Ray Chaudhuri, Jayasri. An Introduction to Development and Regional Planning: With Special

Reference to India. India, Orient Longman, 2001.

9) Nath, Vishwambhar. Regional Development and Planning in India. India, Concept Publishing

Company, 2009.

10) Singh, Ravindra Pratap. Regional Planning in India. India, Radha Publications, 1992.

11) Regional Planning: Concepts, Techniques, Policies and Case Studies. India, Concept

Publishing Company, 1992.

12) Prakasa Rao, V. L. S., et al. Regional Development Planning in India: A New

Strategy. India, Vikas Publishing House, 1978.

13) Urban and Regional Planning Education: Learning for India. Singapore, Springer Singapore.

14) Haughton, Graham, and Dave Counsell. “Regions and Sustainable Development: Regional
Planning Matters.” The Geographical Journal, vol. 170, no. 2, 2004, pp. 135–145. JSTOR,
www.jstor.org/stable/3451590. Accessed 13 May 2021.

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