The issue of around 1.50 lakh people who have applied for regularisation of their plots under the Maharashtra Gunthewari Developments (Regulations Upgradation and Control) Act still hasn’t been resolved. Implementation of an existing rule by Nagpur Metropolitan Region Development Authority (NMRDA) making it mandatory to leave 10% plot land for public utility (PU) is the crux of the problem as most of such people have sold their lands. Now, the NMRDA has further extended the date of submission of application for regularisation to March 31, 2025. NMRDA has decided to follow the condition given in the Gunthewari Act’s Section 3 (2) (a), according to which in the layout, 10% per cent of the plot area shall vest in the Planning Authority, free of cost. The section also mentions that the rule of leaving 10% land is applicable only to those who have not sold the plots.

 

Of the people who have applied, more than 95% have sold their plots. Just because most developers have sympathy towards their customers, they are trying to resolve the issues else, they have been relieved of the responsibility. It is the plot-holder who is suffering. It is interesting to note that not a single plot-holder has received Regularisation Letter (RL). The above section of the Gunthewari Act also says, the people whose plots are unsold only should leave the 10% land, others need not. In fact the rule of leaving 10% land was not strictly implemented earlier when several areas of Nagpur were regularised under Gunthewari. Same is the case in rural areas where Gram Panchayat at present are doing regularisation without developers leaving 10% land.

 

The Gram Panchayat has evolved a system wherein it has introduced agencies of surveyor. These surveyors are sent by the Gram Panchayats to do the survey of the land. These surveyors measure the land, gives approval and Gram Panchayat then provides the RL. NMRDA team is conducting ‘Mojni’ afterwards the people come to NMRDA where they have been asked to leave 10% land for PU and prepare the proposal again upon which NMRDA will regularise such plots under Gunthewari Act. This particular condition is surprisingly not been implemented in Mumbai, Pune and other cities, not even in Nagpur Improvement Trust. Why it is being enforced in NMRDA is a billion dollar question. Since 2001 NIT, which is the planning authority for area within city limits has accepted unregistered agreements and have issued Regularisation Letter to lakhs of plot holders. Gunthewari Regularisation in NMRDA region will boost infrastructure facilities.