Revenue Minister says pre-October 15, 2024 houses on private layouts will be considered for regularisation; farm-access roads to be mapped by March 2027
Kankavli: Maharashtra Revenue Minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule has announced a drone-based survey of properties across Sindhudurg district, followed by the issuance of property cards as part of the government’s land-record modernisation programme.
Addressing a Revenue Grievance Redressal Camp organised under the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Revenue Campaign on Sunday, Bawankule said approximately 200 licensed surveyors would be appointed temporarily to accelerate the survey process.
The minister said the State Government intended to introduce a Land Titling Act that would provide legally recognised ownership records to property holders.
Under the proposed framework, land measurement would be completed before a property transaction was registered. The subsequent mutation of land records would also be streamlined to improve transparency and reduce ownership disputes.
Farm-access roads to be mapped
Bawankule announced that all farm-access roads in Sindhudurg would be surveyed, demarcated, cleared of encroachments and assigned identification numbers by March 31, 2027.
He said the government’s objective under the Chief Minister Baliraja Panand Road Scheme was to ensure that every farmer had access to an approach road leading to agricultural land.
The minister said Revenue Grievance Redressal Camps were being organised across Maharashtra’s 288 Assembly constituencies to bring government services closer to citizens.
He directed the Sindhudurg district administration to act promptly on applications, grievances and representations received during the camp.
Regularisation of houses announced
Bawankule said houses constructed on government land before January 1, 2011 would be surveyed and eligible occupants would be granted land-ownership rights, or pattas, subject to the applicable rules.
He further announced that houses built before October 15, 2024 in layouts developed on private land would be considered for regularisation under the Maharashtra Gunthewari law.
The minister said the measures were intended to resolve long-pending property and ownership issues faced by ordinary citizens.
Special panel to examine Konkan land transactions
Bawankule said the Revenue Department had taken serious note of alleged irregularities in land transactions in the Konkan region.
Referring to an announcement made during his Ratnagiri visit on Saturday, he said a 20-member special investigation committee had been constituted to examine land transactions and related records from the past 10 years.
Any officer or employee found responsible for wrongdoing would face criminal prosecution and strict departmental action, he warned.
The minister said genuine property holders and farmers would be protected while irregularities and fraudulent transactions would be thoroughly investigated.
Proposal to ease agricultural loans
Bawankule also said the government was considering a mechanism to facilitate agricultural loans through guarantee bonds.
In the Konkan region, agricultural plots often have several co-owners listed on the 7/12 land record. Farmers consequently struggle to obtain the consent of every co-owner, resulting in banks refusing or delaying agricultural loans.
The government would examine an appropriate solution to simplify the process and improve access to institutional credit, the minister said.
Revenue issues raised by Nilesh Rane to be addressed
Bawankule praised Sindhudurg Guardian Minister Nitesh Rane and Kudal-Malvan MLA Nilesh Rane for pursuing development and revenue-related matters affecting the district.
He said Nitesh Rane had been effectively handling the Fisheries and Ports Department, while Nilesh Rane had consistently raised Sindhudurg’s revenue issues in the Maharashtra Legislature with preparation and commitment.
Bawankule assured that the government would work towards resolving the revenue-related matters raised by the Kudal-Malvan MLA.
He also acknowledged the contribution of former Chief Minister and former Revenue Minister Narayan Rane, saying several decisions taken during his tenure continued to guide the functioning of the Revenue Department.
Guardian Minister Nitesh Rane, in turn, praised Bawankule for translating citizen-oriented policy decisions into administrative action and described his working style as an inspiration for younger ministers.
