Meeting over Nagpur, Amravati nazul plots issue before session ends: Minister

NAGPUR: State revenue minister Radhakrishna Vikhe-Patil told the legislative council that a meeting will be held, before winter session ends, regarding various concerns raised by members about nazul plots in Nagpur and Amravati. He also informed the council that the state government is mulling a new policy regarding rising ready reckoner rates so that the “common citizen is not adversely impacted”.
Responding specifically to a question related to Nagpur residents who have not complied with renewal notices, the minister said no ‘punitive action’ will be taken but the process will move ahead.

MLCs Abhijit Wanjarri and Pravin Datke pointed out that the nazul properties are unique to Nagpur and Amravati, which stem from rules that existed during the erstwhile CP & Berar state. Wanjarri said that even though government has a policy to regularize the same and hand over ownership to residents, the exorbitant fines and registration costs are derailing the process.
Wanjarri said, “For plot holders there are specific issues like those who wish to renew their lease, and those who have violated the terms of their lease on nazul plots. We want to know what steps the government is taking regarding this and in 2019 the regularization cost was fixed at 5% of ready reckoner which is too costly.” He said that the state now needs to go beyond this process and completely scrap the concept of nazul layouts and lease.
MLC Pravin Datke said, “There needs to be change in the policy regarding imposing of fine on those who violated lease conditions. Just three years ago it would have taken Rs40,000 to regularize (with fines) a 10,000 sq feet plot. Today, the same thing will cost Rs78 lakh. So, even though government holds camps for renewal or regularization process, people do not complete the process.”
Vikhe-Patil said, “It has come to fore that the renewal costs, based on ready reckoner, are multiple times higher than the plot’s original price. We are in the process of bringing a new policy regarding ready reckoner, because increase in price there directly impacts the common citizens. Before this session ends, we will take a meeting regarding the nazul issue.”
The MLCs claimed that residents in Nagpur are facing fines of over Rs2,000 per square feet, which is beyond their paying capacity.
The minister said, “It’s true that this (nazul properties) is specific to Amravati and Nagpur. Government has revised its policies regarding it from time to time and with reference also to those who violated their lease conditions, like the 10% charges for residential category were reduced to 2.5% in 2019. State has always taken a holistic view when it came to issues related to renewal or violations in lease conditions.”
He added that the cost factor comes into play specifically in urban areas of Nagpur. “The complaint we are getting is that in areas like Ramdaspeth and Dhantoli, the cost of renewal/regularization is higher. So, even after district collector tells residents to renew the lease, it’s not happening. This leads to unnecessary fear in minds of residents that they will be penalized Rs2,000 per square feet if process is not completed.”
The minister assured that no punitive action will be taken on residents who have not complied with the renewal/regularization process. “Again through district collector information related to renewal will be given. And from the government side we will direct collector to not take punitive action, so that there is no additional burden on residents,” said Vikhe-Patil.