Maharashtra to give land ownership rights to refugees, educational institutions
* Final decision after receiving report of committee under Chief Secretary, says Revenue Minister Eknath Khadse
* Local bodies to be empowered to issue NA permissions
Staff Reporter
Eknath Khadse, Revenue and Agriculture Minister, told the Legislative Assembly on Monday that the Government would regularise encroachments on private, Gunthewari, or agricultural land. Also, he said, land ownership rights would be granted to refugees, educational institutions, project-affected persons, co-operative societies, and freedom fighters.
Khadse was replying to a debate on supplementary demands pertaining to his departments. In the State, 2.50 lakh houses are located on encroached land. These and encroachments on private or reserved lands, barring the grazing grounds, will be regularised. For the purpose, a law will be enacted. The only condition is that the encroachments should not be on Government lands or encroachments should not come in the way of any infrastructure development project.
Also, the Government is in the process of delegating powers of issuing non-agricultural (NA) permissions to local bodies, Khadse said. Thus, there will not be any need to go to District Collectorate for NA permissions. The local bodies will be empowered to issue NA permissions after proper scrutiny of development plan, said Khadse. Considering the growth of the cities, new Tehsil Offices will be granted soon. Similarly, new posts of Additional Collector-II will be created to take care of the work of caste certificate scrutiny, and also to hear various appeals. Every district will have a caste certificate scrutiny committee, he added.
The Minister pointed out that there were constructions on lands given on lease to educational institutions and co-operative societies, with a long-term planning. Further, the refugees from Pakistan and Bangladesh were given land on lease in various Sindhi colonies across the State. Also, the project-affected persons and freedom fighters will get ownership rights of land given to them on lease. Thus, the Class B (leased) lands will be converted into Class A (ownership rights), Khadse said. However, he said, all these segments will have to pay the charges to be fixed by the Government. Already, the Government has constituted a committee to look into fixation of charges to be recovered from these various segments while converting Class B lands into Class A status. However, he added, the final decision in this regard will be taken once the report of a committee under Chief Secretary was received and studied.
During his reply, Khadse also informed the Assembly that the provisions of Maharashtra Prevention of Fragmentation and Consolidation of Holdings Act would be relaxed to pave way for transfer of a part of agricultural land within developed municipal areas for non-agricultural use.
Replying to the demand of drought relief raised by the Opposition members, Khadse -- who also holds Relief and Rehabilitation portfolio -- said that the Government had made a provision of Rs 4,002 crore for drought relief. Previously also, the BJP-led Government provided a relief ot Rs 8,500 crore. However, he pointed out, the farmers did not get compensation for three years -- 2012-13, 2013-14, and 2014-15 as the final reports were yet to be received. Once the reports are received, the Government will provide aid, he said. As far as distribution of financial assistance for drip irrigation schemes is concerned, he said, steps will be taken to ensure that farmers who have applied for aid are not deprived. If there are irregularities in distribution of aid, he assured, proper corrective action will be taken.
* Local bodies to be empowered to issue NA permissions
Staff Reporter
Eknath Khadse, Revenue and Agriculture Minister, told the Legislative Assembly on Monday that the Government would regularise encroachments on private, Gunthewari, or agricultural land. Also, he said, land ownership rights would be granted to refugees, educational institutions, project-affected persons, co-operative societies, and freedom fighters.
Khadse was replying to a debate on supplementary demands pertaining to his departments. In the State, 2.50 lakh houses are located on encroached land. These and encroachments on private or reserved lands, barring the grazing grounds, will be regularised. For the purpose, a law will be enacted. The only condition is that the encroachments should not be on Government lands or encroachments should not come in the way of any infrastructure development project.
Also, the Government is in the process of delegating powers of issuing non-agricultural (NA) permissions to local bodies, Khadse said. Thus, there will not be any need to go to District Collectorate for NA permissions. The local bodies will be empowered to issue NA permissions after proper scrutiny of development plan, said Khadse. Considering the growth of the cities, new Tehsil Offices will be granted soon. Similarly, new posts of Additional Collector-II will be created to take care of the work of caste certificate scrutiny, and also to hear various appeals. Every district will have a caste certificate scrutiny committee, he added.
The Minister pointed out that there were constructions on lands given on lease to educational institutions and co-operative societies, with a long-term planning. Further, the refugees from Pakistan and Bangladesh were given land on lease in various Sindhi colonies across the State. Also, the project-affected persons and freedom fighters will get ownership rights of land given to them on lease. Thus, the Class B (leased) lands will be converted into Class A (ownership rights), Khadse said. However, he said, all these segments will have to pay the charges to be fixed by the Government. Already, the Government has constituted a committee to look into fixation of charges to be recovered from these various segments while converting Class B lands into Class A status. However, he added, the final decision in this regard will be taken once the report of a committee under Chief Secretary was received and studied.
During his reply, Khadse also informed the Assembly that the provisions of Maharashtra Prevention of Fragmentation and Consolidation of Holdings Act would be relaxed to pave way for transfer of a part of agricultural land within developed municipal areas for non-agricultural use.
Replying to the demand of drought relief raised by the Opposition members, Khadse -- who also holds Relief and Rehabilitation portfolio -- said that the Government had made a provision of Rs 4,002 crore for drought relief. Previously also, the BJP-led Government provided a relief ot Rs 8,500 crore. However, he pointed out, the farmers did not get compensation for three years -- 2012-13, 2013-14, and 2014-15 as the final reports were yet to be received. Once the reports are received, the Government will provide aid, he said. As far as distribution of financial assistance for drip irrigation schemes is concerned, he said, steps will be taken to ensure that farmers who have applied for aid are not deprived. If there are irregularities in distribution of aid, he assured, proper corrective action will be taken.
(14-12-15)
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