Haryana Enacts Legislation for Hisar Metropolitan Development Authority

The State of Haryana formally enacted The Hisar Metropolitan Development Authority Act, 2024, designated as Haryana Act No. 13 of 2024, which received the assent of the Governor of Haryana on April 3, 2024. The legislation was subsequently published for general information in the Haryana Government Gazette on June 24, 2024. This Act establishes a dedicated statutory authority to oversee the comprehensive development of the Hisar Metropolitan Area, addressing the challenges and opportunities presented by its rapid urban expansion. The Act specifies that it shall come into force on such date as the State Government may appoint by notification, with different dates possible for different provisions.

Under the provisions of the new Act, the Hisar Metropolitan Development Authority (HMDA) is established as a body corporate with perpetual succession and a common seal, empowered to acquire, hold, and dispose of property, and to contract. The Authority's constitution includes a broad spectrum of members, such as the Chief Minister of Haryana as Chairperson, various ex-officio ministers, Members of Parliament and State Legislature representing the notified area, the Mayor of Hisar Municipal Corporation, the Chairman of Hisar Zila Parishad, senior government officers, and nominated experts in urban infrastructure, governance, and planning. A Residents Advisory Council was also mandated to provide guidance and advice to the Authority, comprising officials and nominated residents from various community sectors. The Authority is tasked with preparing and implementing plans for infrastructure development, urban amenities, mobility management, sustainable urban environment management, and social, economic, and industrial development within the notified area.

The Authority's financial framework allows it to receive proportionate development charges, infrastructure development charges, and conversion charges. It is also empowered to levy a duty on the transfer of immovable properties, a charge on the sale and consumption of liquor, and a charge on motor vehicles, subject to State Government approval. Furthermore, the Act provides for the State Government to levy a cess on property, lands, and buildings within the notified area for specific purposes. A significant aspect of the legislation involves the transfer of property, interests, rights, and liabilities from the Haryana Shehri Vikas Pradhikaran and the Haryana State Industrial and Infrastructure Development Corporation to the newly formed HMDA, streamlining development efforts.

The legislative intent behind the Act is to foster the continued, sustained, and balanced growth of the Hisar Metropolitan Area. The legislation provided: “...to develop a vision for the continued, sustained and balanced growth of the Hisar Metropolitan Area through quality of life and reasonable standard of living provided to residents through generation of employment opportunities, to provide for integrated and coordinated planning, infrastructure development and provision of urban amenities, mobility management, sustainable management of the urban environment and social, economic and industrial development, to redefine the urban governance and delivery structure in coordination with local authorities in the context of the emergence of Hisar as a rapidly expanding urban agglomeration, to establish a statutory Authority for the said purpose and for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto.” This comprehensive approach aims to address the complexities arising from Hisar's emergence as a rapidly expanding urban centre.

The Act seeks to overcome previous limitations in urban governance and delivery structures by establishing a single, coordinated authority. It aims to fill statutory gaps by providing a unified framework for planning, infrastructure development (such as roads, water supply, sewerage, and electricity), and the provision of urban amenities like parks, public transport, and cultural centres. The legislation introduces new obligations for various entities to align their development activities with the HMDA's plans and establishes mechanisms for public participation through the Residents Advisory Council. The Act also outlines enforcement powers, including the ability to direct the removal of unauthorized developments and obstructions, and specifies modes for the recovery of money due to the Authority. The provisions of this Act are designed to have an overriding effect over inconsistent provisions in other State laws, while also clarifying that they are in addition to, and not in derogation of, other existing laws. The State Government retains powers to issue directions to the Authority and resolve disputes between the Authority and other local bodies.

Keywords: Hisar Metropolitan Development Authority, Haryana Act 2024, Urban Development, Infrastructure Planning, Mobility Management, Environmental Sustainability, Haryana Legislation, Urban Governance, Hisar Geo Tags: India, Haryana District: Hisar