Nagpur: Maharashtra govt has approved the regularisation of residential encroachments on govt land up to 500sqft free of cost, in a decision expected to provide housing security to lakhs of low-income families across the state.The policy, announced by revenue minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule following directives from CM Devendra Fadnavis, applies to encroachments existing until Jan 1, 2011, and used strictly for residential purposes. The scheme will not cover Mumbai and Mumbai suburban districts.“It is the govt’s firm stand that no needy family in the state should remain without shelter,” Bawankule said in a media statement, adding that its progress will be reviewed every three months.As per a govt resolution, encroachments beyond 500sqft will attract an occupancy fee of 10% of the prevailing market value, while the maximum eligible area is capped at 1,500sqft. Any excess construction will be removed. Structures with partial commercial use will be charged 25% of the market value for that portion.The land will be granted jointly in the names of husband and wife under ‘occupancy class-2′ category, with a registration fee of Rs1,000 for plots up to 1,000sqft. Authorities have mandated strict scrutiny to ensure that non-citizens are excluded, directing officials to file police complaints in case of violations.Encroachments on ecologically or socially sensitive land — including riverbeds, grazing lands, forests, public roads, cremation grounds, playgrounds, and land reserved for schools and hospitals — will not be regularised. Eligible families in such locations will instead be considered for alternative housing under Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana.To qualify, applicants must provide proof of residence before Jan 1, 2011, through documents such as voter lists, electricity bills or property tax receipts, along with evidence of continuous residence over the past year.Implementation will be overseen by multi-tier committees led by district collectors, sub-divisional officers and tehsildars, with a 17-member panel under the guardian minister at the district level and additional committees at the constituency level. These bodies are expected to expedite decisions and reduce bureaucratic delays.As per revenue officials, the move aligns with broader national and global efforts to formalise informal housing and expand property rights for the urban and rural poor. While it promises tenure security, experts note that its success will depend on transparent implementation and careful exclusion of environmentally sensitive zones.
