Haryana Amends Panchkula Metropolitan Development Authority Act, Integrates Kalka Municipal Council

The Haryana Legislature enacted The Panchkula Metropolitan Development Authority (Amendment) Act, 2025 (Haryana Act No. 7 of 2025), which received the assent of the Governor of Haryana on March 31, 2025, and was subsequently published for general information on April 7, 2025. This legislative instrument serves to further amend the principal statute, the Panchkula Metropolitan Development Authority Act, 2021 (Haryana Act 23 of 2021), thereby modifying the framework governing urban development and planning within the Panchkula metropolitan area. The amendments primarily focus on expanding the scope and membership of the Panchkula Metropolitan Development Authority (PMDA) and harmonizing its operations with other significant urban planning and periphery control legislations in the state.

A key change introduced by the Amendment Act is the explicit inclusion of the Municipal Council, Kalka, within the operational ambit of the PMDA. This integration is reflected in various sections of the principal Act, such as the definition clause, where "and the Municipal Council, Kalka" was inserted after "Municipal Corporation, Panchkula." Furthermore, the Act mandates the inclusion of the Chairman, Municipal Council, Kalka, as an ex-officio member of the PMDA, alongside the newly designated District Municipal Commissioner, Panchkula, who also becomes an ex-officio member in various capacities, including the Authority itself and its committees. The legislation provided: "AN ACT further to amend the Panchkula Metropolitan Development Authority Act, 2021." This core intent underpins the series of modifications, which also saw the substitution of sub-section (2) of section 2 to broaden the definitions applicable to the principal Act, incorporating terms from the Haryana Scheduled Roads and Controlled Areas Restriction of Unregulated Development Act, 1963, the Haryana New Capital (Periphery) Control Act, 1952, the Haryana Municipal Act, 1973, the Haryana Development and Regulation of Urban Areas Act, 1975, and the Haryana Municipal Corporation Act, 1994.

The legislative intent behind these amendments is to foster a more integrated and comprehensive approach to urban development and regulation within the Panchkula metropolitan region. By incorporating the Municipal Council, Kalka, and the District Municipal Commissioner, Panchkula, into the PMDA's structure and decision-making processes, the Act aims to ensure better coordination among local bodies and streamline administrative functions related to urban planning. The earlier legal position, which primarily focused on the Municipal Corporation, Panchkula, created a statutory gap regarding the holistic development of the broader metropolitan area, including Kalka. The amendments address this by extending the PMDA's regulatory and developmental oversight to Kalka, ensuring that infrastructure plans conform not only to the Haryana Scheduled Roads and Controlled Areas Restriction of Unregulated Development Act, 1963, but also to the Haryana New Capital (Periphery) Control Act, 1952. This harmonization of regulatory frameworks is crucial for consistent urban growth and the prevention of unregulated development, particularly in areas bordering the new capital region. The Act also modifies provisions related to the ascertainment of development conformity and the collection of conversion charges, explicitly referencing the Haryana New Capital (Periphery) Control Act, 1952, thereby strengthening the enforcement mechanisms for planned development. These changes are designed to create a more cohesive and legally robust environment for urban governance and development in the region.

Keywords: Panchkula Metropolitan Development Authority, Haryana, Amendment Act, Kalka Municipal Council, Urban Development, Periphery Control, Legislative Update, Haryana Act 7 of 2025, PMDA Geo Tags: India, Haryana District: Panchkula