(1) As soon as may be, after the declaration of the planning area, the Government, in consultation with the Board, may, by notification, constitute in respect of that area an authority to be called the ---13--- “Planning and Development Authority” of that area for the purpose of performing the functions assigned to Planning and Development Authorities under this Act.
(2) Every Planning and Development Authority constituted under sub-section (1) shall be a body corporate by the name aforesaid having perpetual succession and a common seal with power to acquire, hold and dispose of property both movable and immovable, and to contract, and shall by the said name sue and be sued.
(3) Every Planning and Development Authority constituted under sub-section (1) shall consist of the following members, namely:—
(i) a Chairman to be appointed by the Government;
(ii) a Town Planning Officer to be appointed by the Government in consultation with the 55 [Chief Town Planner (Planning)] who shall be the Member Secretary of the Planning and Development Authority;
56[(iia) All the Members of Legislative Assembly representing a planning area;]
(iii) representatives of local authorities, to be composed as follows:—
(a) in the case of a planning area in which only one local authority has jurisdiction, a representative nominated by that local authority from among its members and the Chief Executive Officer of that local authority;
(b) in the case of a planning area in which two or more local authorities have jurisdiction, representatives of such local authorities as the Government may consider necessary to be represented, 57[ ];
(iv) such number of other members, not exceeding 58[five], appointed by the Government, who, in the opinion of the Government, have special knowledge of, or practical experience in, matters relating to town and country planning, architecture, engineering, transport, industry, commerce and agriculture.
(4) The Government may, if it thinks fit, appoint one of the members of the Planning and Development Authority as its Vice-Chairman.
(5) The Government may, in consultation with the Board, appoint any local authority as the Planning and Development Authority for the area comprised within the local limits of the jurisdiction of such local authority and for such other contiguous or adjacent area or areas as the Government may declare as a planning area under section 18.
(6) Where a local authority is appointed as a Planning and Development Authority under sub-section (5), the provisions of sub-section (3) of this section and sections 21, 23 and 25 shall not apply, and the provisions of the Act by which such local authority is constituted shall continue to apply to it in respect of matters covered by the aforesaid sections.
(7) A local authority appointed as a Planning and Development Authority under sub-section (5) shall, for the purpose of performing the functions of a Planning and Development Authority under this Act, constitute a Planning Committee consisting of the following members, namely:— ---14---
(i) a Chairman;
(ii) the Town Planning Officer, who shall be the Member Secretary to the Committee; and
(iii) five other members, two of whom shall be appointed by the Government in consultation with the Board.
(8) Every Planning Committee constituted by a local authority under sub-section (7) shall have the same status and powers of a Standing Committee appointed by the local authority by the Act under which such local authority is constituted and the terms and conditions of the members of the Committee shall be such as may be prescribed.