Mumbai, March 27 In a major policy move, the Maharashtra government has decided to regularize residential encroachments up to 500 square feet that existed as of January 1, 2011, across the state, excluding the city of Mumbai and its suburban district, a minister said on Friday.
Revenue Minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule also clarified in a statement that encroachments on riverbeds, drains, grazing land, public roads, forests, cremation grounds, playgrounds, and land reserved for schools or hospitals will not be regularized under any circumstances.
Such encroachments will be removed, and the affected families will be considered for alternative housing under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY), he said.
Regarding the policy, the minister said, "Residential encroachments up to 500 sq ft will be regularized without any charge, while the remaining area will attract a 10 per cent occupancy price based on the prevailing market value. This decision will apply across the state, except for Mumbai and its suburban district," the minister said.
The regularized land will be allotted in joint ownership in the name of the husband and wife under the 'Class-2 occupant' category, he said.
This initiative will cover both rural and urban areas, he said, adding that encroachments up to a maximum of 1,500 sq ft will be regularized in each case, and any structure occupying an area above that will be removed.
Documents, such as voter lists, electricity bills, and property tax receipts prior to January 1, 2011, along with mandatory proof of residence for the past one year, will be accepted, Bawankule said.
If a part of a house is used for commercial purposes, a 25 per cent of the market value will be charged, he said.
The minister said that committees headed by district collectors, sub-divisional officers, and tehsildars will implement the scheme, and district-level and constituency-level committees will be formed for decision-making.
"No eligible family in the state should remain without shelter. By regularizing encroachments up to January 1, 2011, we have provided relief to the poor and needy families. This will bring stability to many families. A review will be conducted every three months," Bawankule said.