Maha govt's nod to proposal on uniformity in land valuation

Maharashtra Cabinet today gave nod to a proposal to bring uniformity in valuation of government lands given for non-agricultural purposes, amid a row over handing over of land to BJP MP Hema Malini at "throwaway" price.
Speaking to reporters here, revenue minister Eknath Khadse, however, maintained that the decision had nothing to do with the controversy.
In Malini's case, the government was yet to calculate the value of the land in suburban Mumbai for her dance academy, he
said.
"Government lands were given at concessional rates as per the Government Resolutions of 1976 and 1983. The government normally reviews the policy every 10 years," he said.

Replying to questions over similar land allotments made to the institutions run by Congress and NCP leaders in the past, Khadse said if the institutions did not make use of the land within the given time, the government, after giving them a hearing, should take the land back.

Meanwhile, revenue secretary Manu Kumar Shrivastava said the valuation of the land was arrived at based on the market rates. However, there was no uniformity in calculation of the market value itself.
Now, in urban areas the valuation of government land reserved in the development plan will be based on the rateable value applicable to the category in which the land falls.

"In regions close to urban areas, the valuation shall be worked out on the basis of the category of the land, or on the basis of the nearest market value (that is, market value of land in nearest urban area), or the nearest probable NA rate," Shrivastava said.
In rural areas, the valuation will be based on the nature of the agricultural land, its fertility, and factors like its proximity to a highway, among others.
However, Khadse said today's decision did not mean that the government lands will be given at concessional rates.