The state government has approved a land pooling scheme to curb inordinate delay in land acquisition for highway projects. The amendment in this regard has been made in the Maharashtra Highway Act in the Monsoon Session that just got over last week.
The land pooling scheme envisages voluntary participation, return of developed non-agricultural plot or land free from all encumbrances. The first such experiment has been initiated for the 800-km long Mumbai-Nagpur Super Expressway where a certain proportion of developed land with monetary compensation would be given back to the owners. The pattern has been extended to the entire state by amending the Act.
“Acquisition of land is one of the most important issues which agitates the minds of the persons whose land is being acquired as it impacts the livelihood of the people whose survival is dependent on the produce of the land. In view of this, the state government has decided to make land owners or persons interested as partners and direct beneficiaries on the development process,” the Act said.
In this background, the government made provisions in the Maharashtra Highway Act to provide for the Land Pooling Scheme by voluntary participation of land owners or persons interested.
“The land pooling scheme envisages voluntary participation, return of developed non-agricultural plot or land free from all encumbrances on Class-I occupancy basis. It also entails issue of the Land Pooling Ownership Certificate, exemption from payment of registration fee, stamp duty and non-agricultural assessment to the developed non-agricultural plot or land. Also, exemption from premium of unearned income for transferring the lands of Class-II occupancies of various descriptions in the Land Pooling Scheme to the class-I occupancy basis,” the amendment said.
The class I occupancy means land whose ownership was vested even before British land surveys or inherited land. The class II occupancy means land given out on transfer, sale and change of use. The conversion is meant for use of land for development projects.
It envisages providing basic infrastructure amenities in the New Town designated for allotment of the developed non-agricultural plot or land as per entitlement.
With a view to decentralise the development and enhance industrial and commercial investment in the rest of the state, to boost rural economy and for rapid and equitable development of the state, it has become imperative to upgrade the road network across the state, the amendment has added.
