Real Estate Maharashtra
Maharashtra: End the Colonial Era in Mira-Bhayandar's Land Revenue Record
By GeoSquare News Desk · Published 2024-07-02
Even after achieving independence, vast stretches of land in Mira-Bhayandar remain under the control of a private entity since the British regime. To obtain permissions for construction projects and deemed conveyance, it is mandatory to obtain a No Objection Certificate (NOC) from the British-era private firm, Estate Investment Company, whose name appears in the land revenue record (7/12 extract) on over 9,000 acres of land in Bhayandar, Mire, and Ghodbunder revenue villages.
The company allegedly demands exorbitant amounts for issuing its NOC, which is a mandated component for getting construction approvals from the Mira Bhayandar Municipal Corporation (MBMC) and to secure deemed conveyance from the local sub-registrar office. Shiv Sena legislator Pratap Sarnaik has raised the issue, seeking an end to the colonial regime by moving a call-to-attention motion in the ongoing monsoon session of the state assembly.
According to records, Ramchandra Laxmanji was appointed as caretaker in 1871 to build protection walls to block water in the city. In lieu of this service, farmers had to hand over 1/3 of their agricultural produce. In 1945, the responsibility of protection was handed over to the Estate Investment Company, which became a superior holder of lands in the records of the three revenue villages.
After a dispute over mutation entries, the company's name was removed from the occupant column of the record of rights and entered in the other rights column. However, this was only for a brief period. The then District Collector, Thane, passed an order on September 5, 2008, in favor of the company, directing its name to be entered in the occupant column of the 7/12 land extract record.
'The very demand of NOCs from a private company itself defeats the objective of the deemed conveyance drive. In response to my query raised in the house in December 2023, the revenue minister had assured me to do the needful, however, nothing moved ahead. It seems the twin-city is still under the colonial regime,' said Sarnaik.
Hundreds of housing societies in the twin-city lack deemed conveyance and are still registered under the names of developers or landlords. The additional burden of procuring NOCs from the private firm deprives the actual flat owners of benefits from future development.
Information The Estate Investment Company was established during the British era to manage the lands in Mira-Bhayandar. The company's legacy continues to impact the development of the region.
Shiv Sena is a political party in Maharashtra, India, founded in 1966. The party has been a significant player in the state's politics, with its legislators raising important issues affecting the citizens of Maharashtra.
Mira Bhayandar Municipal Corporation (MBMC) is the municipal corporation responsible for the civic governance of Mira-Bhayandar, a twin-city in the Thane district of Maharashtra, India.