PUNE: The Maharashtra government has decided to regularise individual residential unauthorised constructions (encroachments) up to 1,500 square feet on government lands, excluding hilltop and slope and Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ).
This decision will be implemented under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY), which was launched in June 2015, with an aim to provide affordable housing to urban poor.
By regularising encroachments, the government wishes to speed up the work under PMAY in the State.
The Union and State governments have undertaken a mission to provide homes to all homeless families up to 2022 under the PMAY.
The Union government has approved housing projects in 382 cities of the state.
During the recent visit of Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis to Pune, the CM mentioned that the government has set a target of 10 lakh houses under PMAY in different parts of the State.
Last week, the Urban Development Department issued a government resolution and directed all districts to form the committee to regularise encroachments in the jurisdiction of the local self-government.
The decision will be taken by a three-member committee, under the chairmanship of District Collector and Deputy Divisional Officer at Municipal Council and Zilla Parishad level. The committee will consist of District Collector/ Deputy Divisional Officer, District Land Record Officer or Deputy District Land Record Officer and Municipal Commissioner or Zilla Parishad President or Municipal Councillor.
The State government has set a condition for regularisation of residential encroachments on government land. The encroachments should have been there before January 2011. It should be maximum 1,500 square feet. The GR mentioned that no registration fee should be charged from SC/ ST categories as per PMAY. It also mentions that registration fee should be charged from other categories for encroachments from 500 square feet to 1,500 square feet.
It also states that if encroacher has encroached upon more than 1,500 square feet of land for the residential purpose, he or she should be asked to remove excessive encroachment (more than 1,500 square feet) and only then, the structure will be regularised.
Populist decision ahead of polls
Political parties are claiming that this is a populist decision ahead of forthcoming polls. While speaking to Sakal Times, Nationalist Congress Party Unit Chief Chetan Tupe said, “The government has made the announcement of providing houses to all. However, achieving this target within the deadline is impossible. Hence, the government has taken a decision to regularise residential encroachments on government land and try to achieve the target. The BJP will use this decision in the forthcoming polls to attract voters.”
Mohan Joshi, Senior Congress Leader said, “The government is taking a decision without checking its feasibility. This decision is one such example. The High Court has passed an order against regularising encroachments and on the other hand, the government is taking decision to regularise it. It will not work out. It is nothing but a populist decision by the BJP government.”