One-time compensation for eligible encroachers to free up govt

To speed up land acquisition for public projects, the Maharashtra government today decided to award one-time compensation to encroachers on government land who are eligible for rehabilitation.

The decision, taken at a cabinet meeting, would help completion of important public projects which require government land in time and curb the expenditure, said an official in the Chief Minister's Office.

Eligibility norms for encroachers on government land (including slum-dwellers in urban areas) for getting compensation vary from place to place, he said.

Earlier there was no policy to remove encroachers on an urgent basis to make land available for important public projects, he said.

The government had set up a committeeheaded by the principal secretary (revenue) to prepare a policy. The cabinet today approved its recommendation that a one-time compensation be paid to those encroachers who are eligible for rehabilitation, the official said.