Tue Jul 15 16:10:05 UTC 2025: **Summary of Text:**
The article reports on opposition from farmers and residents in Coimbatore, India, regarding land classification changes in the recently released Coimbatore Master Plan. Critics, including an architect, claim the plan reverses previously agreed-upon changes from the draft plan, ignores public objections, and harms investments made based on the initial draft. Specifically, land designated for residential or development purposes in the draft is now reclassified as agricultural land, creating bureaucratic hurdles. In Annur area, farmers and residents object to the planned 200-foot wide bypass road that would destroy residential areas and agricultural developments, despite their previous objections.
**News Article:**
**Coimbatore Master Plan Faces Backlash Over Land Reclassification**
**COIMBATORE, July 15, 2025 (The Hindu) –** The newly released Coimbatore Master Plan is facing heavy criticism from farmers and residents in Coimbatore, India, who allege that the plan reverses agreed-upon changes from the draft version and disregards public objections.
An architect speaking to The Hindu expressed concern over the reclassification of land initially earmarked for residential and development purposes back to agricultural land. This change, he argued, creates significant obstacles for landowners who made investments based on the original draft plan.
“We have gone back by 20 years,” the architect claimed. “It means the land owner has to approach the Local Planning Area for a no objection area to develop that land and this will be a time-consuming process.”
The Kongu Mandalam Farmers Association and residents of seven villages in Annur are also protesting the inclusion of a 200-foot wide bypass road in the plan. Residents argue that the road construction would devastate residential and agricultural areas.
“We submitted our opposition when the draft plan was released. Our objections have been ignored. We have submitted a memorandum to the District Collector now,” said Dhanapal, a concerned villager.
Critics are accusing the Local Planning Authority of ignoring public concerns and prioritizing development interests over the livelihoods of residents and farmers. Further developments and potential revisions to the plan are eagerly awaited by the affected communities.
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**Note:** The initial piece of text was an advertisement and information about The Hindu newspaper. I have excluded this for the purposes of rewriting as a news article.
First Piper 