ONLY about 1,000 of 1.5 lakh applicants in Nagpur Metropolitan Regional Development Authority (NMRDA) could get their plots regularised under Maharashtra Gunthewari Developments (Regulations Upgradation and Control) Act in last three years. Now, NMRDA has brought new date wherein plot-holders have to submit applications by February 20, 2026 online. Why NMRDA brought new date is a million dollar question. Implementation of an existing rule by Nagpur Metropolitan Regulatory Development Authority (NMRDA) making it mandatory to leave 10% plot land for Public Utility (PU) is the crux of the problem as most people have sold their lands. Now NMRDA has further extended the date of application submission for regularisation. NMRDA has decided to follow the condition given in Gunthewari Act’s section 3 (2) (a), according to which in the layout, ten per cent of the plots shall vest in the Planning Authority, free of cost.

 

The section also clears that the rule of leaving 10% land is applicable only to those who have not sold the plots or not built anything on it. Of the people who have applied, more than 95% have sold their plots. It is interesting to note that only about 1,000 plot holder have received Regularisation Letter (RL). According to a high level source, only one layout of a builder got his entire layout sanctioned at Mouza Bothali. 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. The 2001 Act was amended on March 2, 2021 by Maharashtra State Government. According to the amendment made, all Gunthewari developments existing as on December 31, 2020 shall be eligible for being considered by the planning authority for regularisation.

 

On May 26, 2023, the then Commissioner of NMRDA invited application from plot holders having plots in NMRDA region to apply online for regularisation of unauthorised plots All applicants paid Rs 3000 per plot. For about one-and-a-half years, the NMRDA authorities did not start issuing regularisation demand to the applicants. First the issue was about attaching registered documents with the application then it was insistence by the authority to get 10% land for public use. 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 is doing regularisation without developers leaving 10% land. The Gram Panchayat has evolved a system wherein it has introduced agencies of surveyer.

 

These surveryers are sent by the Gram Panchayats to do the survey of the land. These surveyers 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.

 

 

The government has revoked the Collector’s powers to grant non-agricultural (NA) permission; who will grant permission now? Sections 41 to 47 and 108 to 120 of the Maharashtra Land Revenue Code, 1966, concerning NA (non-agricultural) permission, have been repealed. The State Government has published a gazette notification regarding this. The State Government has withdrawn the District Collector’s powers to grant non-agricultural permission. These powers have now been given to the local planning authority. A gazette notification has been published for this purpose. However, there is a lack of clarity on many issues. Will the Government premium, recovery of arrears, verification of the 7/12 extract, and recording in the land records be handled by the Revenue Department (i.e., the district administration) or by the local authority officials? Officials fear that this could lead to further confusion and potential legal disputes. The State Government has taken a major decision to boost development work in villages surrounding cities. Accordingly, permission from the District Collector is no longer required for non-agricultural use.