Lease landholders get govt sop

Mumbai: In a significant decision for giving relief to thousands of government lease landholders considering the upcoming elections, the chief minister Devendra Fadnavis-led government allowed the transfer of government land and various changes charging certain fees. Now, lease landholders can get ownership of the land by paying fees. The cabinet on Tuesday accepted the report of the committee under revenue secretary.

The residence of the societies constructed on the government lease lands were demanding for the policy allowing the conversion of class 2 land to class 1 land since many years.

In class 2-type land, leaseholder or residents have to take permission from the government for renting, sale of the premises or redevelopment. In class 1 type land, leaseholder has all the rights of ownership and doesn’t require any permission from the government.

Residents of the 20,000 societies across the state and 3,000 in Mumbai were demanding for the policy of the transfer of land. So, Mr Fadnavis appointed the committee under revenue secretary for the detailed study on the issue and the cabinet approved the recommendations on Tuesday.

Now government allowed change of land from class 2 to class 1 if allotted for agriculture, residential and commercial purpose. Lands allotted for industrial, charitable, education purpose, for ground or any other purpose, could not be transferred to class 1, government cleared. For conversion of the lands, government will charge the fees about 50 per cent of the ready reckoner value.

The government has laid down many conditions and has done classification about the fees as per lease period. All powers for approvals were given to the collector. Many representations were made to the government in this regard. Considering the Lok Sabha and Assembly elections next year, Mr Fadnavis cleared the proposal.