Change in farmland status made easier in Maharashtra

The Maharashtra government has simplified the procedure to convert farmland into non- agricultural (NA) land for plots covered under Development Plans (DPs) in urban areas.

The move is expected to boost realty development in the state.

"The government has done away with the need to obtain permissions for changing the use of land to 'non-agricultural' category for land covered under the Development Plans (DPs).

"The implementation of the decision was facing some hurdles at the regional level. To do away with the hurdles the government has come out with a Government Resolution (GR) that has instructions in this regard. The GR seeks to make the (land conversion) procedure easy," Revenue Minister Eknath Khadse told reporters here on Wednesday.

The GR has made it mandatory for revenue officials to furnish details of classification of land (agricultural or non-agricultural) within 30 days of receiving an application, he said.

Plots falling under a particular category won't require status change to NA, he said. "In certain cases, obtaining a No Objection Certificate (NOC) from the District Collector within 30 days by paying fees prescribed under rules will obliterate the need to transfer the land to NA category," Khadse said.

Action would be taken against officials for not adhering to the 30-day time limit, the minister said, adding, to implement the new norms, Collector's offices have been asked to create data banks and set up special cells.

"Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has directed all the Collectors to speed up the processes to grant NA permissions," he said.