Maharashtra Approves Free Regularisation for Pre-2011 Residential Encroachments up to 500 sqft

NAGPUR: The Maharashtra government has taken a significant step to provide housing security to low-income families by approving the regularisation of residential encroachments existing on government land since January 1, 2011, or earlier. Under this scheme, encroachments up to 500 sqft will be regularised free of cost, benefiting thousands of families across the state. However, the scheme will not cover Mumbai and Mumbai Suburban districts.

Revenue Minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule emphasized the government's commitment to ensuring that no needy family in the state remains without shelter. He stated that the progress of the scheme will be reviewed every three months to ensure its smooth implementation and to address any issues that may arise.

According to the government resolution issued on Friday, encroachments beyond 500 sqft will attract an occupancy fee of 10% of the prevailing market value, with the maximum eligible area capped at 1,500 sqft. Any excess construction beyond this limit 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 the husband and wife under the 'occupancy class-II' category, with a registration fee of Rs 1,000 for plots up to 1,000 sqft. To prevent misuse, authorities have mandated strict scrutiny to ensure that non-citizens are excluded from the scheme.

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 the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY).

To qualify for the scheme, applicants must provide proof of residence before January 1, 2011, through documents such as voter lists, electricity bills, or property tax receipts. They must also provide evidence of continuous residence over the past year. Implementation of the scheme will be overseen by multi-tier committees led by district collectors, sub-divisional officers, and tehsildars. A 17-member panel under the guardian minister will be formed at the district level, with additional committees at the constituency level to ensure a transparent and efficient process.