ABSTRACT: - INTERIM LUDCP OF TARAKESWAR DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY (TDA) [Under section 56 of the West Bengal Town & Country (Planning & Development) Act, 1979] P a g e | 1 TABLE OF CONTENTS: - 1. Introduction…………………………………….………………..….02 2. Location…………………………………………………...….…….05 3. Demography………………………………………..……...………..07 4. Existing Scenario………………………………………...…………07 5. Existing Land Use…………………………………………...……...08 6. Administrative Setup……………………………………………….08 7. Vision……………………………………………………….………09 8. Development Control Regulation……………..……………………09 Interim LUDCP of Tarakeswar Development Authority (TDA) P a g e | 2 INTRODUCTION: Tarakeswar is a town and a municipality in Hooghly District in the Indian State of West Bengal. It has a Police Station under Chandannagar Sub-Division. This place is famous for having one of the most significant Lings of Lord Shiva. In this place, the Linga of Lord Shiva is worshipped in the name of Taraknath. For housing this important Linga of Lord Shiva, this city has coined its name from the name of lord Taraknath. This pious town of Hooghly district is located 58KM away from Kolkata. Taraknath temple is the major attraction of Tarakeswar city. This temple was created in 1729 A.D. by Raja Bharamalla. According to experts, this temple was built by following the patterns of central West Bengal’s architecture with features such as ‘Aatchala’ and ‘Natmandir’. The temple has four roofs above the Sanctum Sanctorum and extended galleries for the congregation of the devotees. Dudhpukur Tank is a major attraction of Tarakeswar. This milk tank is linked up with the temple of Taraknath. According to mythological belief this tank is a miraculous place. For this reason, travellers draw closer to take a dip inside this water tank to fulfil their wishes. Interim LUDCP of Tarakeswar Development Authority (TDA) P a g e | 3 Another important place in Tarakeswar is Buddha Temple of Deulpara. This beautiful temple of Lord Buddha is located 6KM away from the city. According to various records, Dalai Lama is credited as the founder of this only Buddhist temple of Hooghly district. Inside this temple compound, one may find a beautiful idol of Lord Buddha. The garden of this temple is another attraction after visiting the site. Tarakeswar town is situated at 22.53°N and 82.2°E. Area of Tarakeswar Development Authority is 92.67 SQ.KM. consisting of 56 mouzas (7GPs) of area 88.79 SQ.KM. and 15 nos. of wards under Tarakeswar Municipality (area 3.88 SQ.KM.). Tarakeswar Development Authority was constituted in the year 2017. Considering the importance of the Development of temple complex and surroundings, the following projects have been taken up by Tarakeswar Development Authority from the State Plan fund of the Department of UD & MA. Infrastructure: - Construction of more than 28000 meters Cement Concrete and paver block roads and More than 4000 meters Bituminous roads has been done by TDA in its two and a half years of existence. Besides, upgradation of Tarakeswar old bus stand and also new bus stand have been done which was most essential for the inhabitants of entire Tarakeswar area and other areas too. Interim LUDCP of Tarakeswar Development Authority (TDA) P a g e | 4 Illumination works in TDA area have been providing 7 nos Electrical High Mast, 300 nos LED street lights and 128 nos Electrical decorative poles. Tarakeswar Welcome Gate is being Constructed which will be very much helpful for the pilgrims who are coming from various directions, moreover this will be land mark for the pilgrims specially in connection to “Sraboni Mela” in the Bengali Srabon month in every year, the Shiva Temple being 3.00KM distance from the location of Welcome Gate. Sanitation: - Upgradation of drainage system surrounding the temple complex nearing 2800 meters. As the State Government of West Bengal is ambitious for modernizing, develop and strengthen the infrastructure facilities in urban areas, the Authority has under taken the project “Storm Water Drainage System” of total Tarakeswar Municipal area as a part of it. Beautification: - Beautification of surrounding area of Dudhpukur by upgradation of the adjacent roads, construction of sheds and illumination works. Development works of Kumkumipukur, Belpukur and Padmapukur has also taken up. Besides, the Authority has taken up the major project “Rejuvenation of Baba Taraknath Temple Pond (Dudhpukur)” to restore its rich heritage beauty and to improve water transparency and clarity & removal of present & dead algal mass & contribution solids, removal of organic matter contribution to BOD & COD. Interim LUDCP of Tarakeswar Development Authority (TDA) P a g e | 5 Besides the above, the Tarakeswar Development Authority has also taken up the projects like Upgradation of Pay & Use Toilets near Rajbari Math of Tarakeswar Temple, Crematorium area Road side Beautification near Hanuman Ghat under Green City Mission. LOCATION: Interim LUDCP of Tarakeswar Development Authority (TDA) P a g e | 6 The Mouza details of the Tarakeswar Development Authority is given below, Interim LUDCP of Tarakeswar Development Authority (TDA) P a g e | 7 DEMOGRAPHY: As per 2011 Cencus of India, total population of Tarakeswar Development Authority area (including Blocks and Municipality) were 1,59,853. In the area of Tarakeswar Municipal Town total population were 30,947 of which 16,049 (52%) were males and 14,898 (48%) were females. Population below 6 years was 2,685. The total numbers of literates in Tarakeswar Municipal Town was 23,711 (83.90% of the population are 6 years). EXISTING SCENARIO: A large number of tourist assemble in the area throughout the year. Monday is considered as Lord Shiva’s day. So on that day large number of pilgrims visits the temple to worship Lord Shiva. Thousands of pilgrims visit Tarakeswar Temple on the occation of Shivaratri in Falgun (February-March), Gajan (Mid- April) for five days, Chaitra Sankranti in middle of June and during the month of Sraban (mid july to mid August). Srabon is most important of all the occation and millions of devotees visit the temple and take a holy dip in Dudhpukur. Considering the facts, the need for long term sustainable planning in a coordinated approach to creat and maintain the infrastructure is strongly felt. Interim LUDCP of Tarakeswar Development Authority (TDA) P a g e | 8 Moreover the surrounding area has other tourist attractions and there is potential to develop the entire area surrounding Tarakeswar into an integrated tourist zone. Urbanization process in the area is also ongoing which needs a coordinated approach to be directed in a proper way. For all these reasons the establishment of a Development Authority for all round development of Tarakeswar is a positive step. EXISTING LAND USE: Land use pattern of the Municipal area are residential land- 26.63%, agricultural land- 25.60%, Commercial land- 6.44%, residential cum commercial land- 8.76% and also percentage of land lying vacant and un-utilised is 17.01%. Apart from that 7.75% land is remaining as wet lands and lakes. There is sufficient scope of developing Agricultural produce of the region, vacant land and vibrant market. ADMINISTRATIVE SET UP: The Tarakeswar is in the chandannagar Sub-Division under the Burdwan Division in the District of Hooghly. It is also under the Tarakeswar Police Station and Tarakeswar Block. The town accomodates Block Development office, Police Station, Fire service office and other various office of different departments of the Government and Semi Govt. level. Interim LUDCP of Tarakeswar Development Authority (TDA) P a g e | 9 VISION: Leading sustainable religious tourism development for inclusive economic growth in Tarakeswar Planning Area. Objective: - • To create integrated Tourism Zone with a basic theme of Pilgrimage Town already attracts tourists. • To promote sustainable tourism and encourage the conservation and preservation of unique natural and cultural heritage of the area. • To fully tap the direct and indirect economic benefits of tourism by creation of tourism circuit. This will be done by creating more employment opportunities and by dispersing tourism into the hinterland which will further the socio‐economic goals of the Government. DEVELOPMENT CONTROL REGULATION: • Prevalent Building Rule of ULB (Municipal Building Bye Laws) will be effective for Municipality areas under respective Planning Area. • Prevalent Panchayat Rule will be effective for areas other than Municipality areas under respective Planning Area. Interim LUDCP of Tarakeswar Development Authority (TDA) .