Bawankule hints at major land law reform, amend plot size restrictions
Nagpur: Revenue minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule on Monday announced that the state govt is preparing to introduce new legislation in the upcoming monsoon session of the legislature to allow the development of one-guntha (1,000 sq ft) plots within residential zones — effectively amending the existing land fragmentation restrictions.
Speaking to reporters in Delhi, he said, "We are bringing a law that will permit one-guntha plot development in residential areas. Chief minister Devendra Fadnavis has already directed necessary amendments to the land fragmentation act, and we are initiating the next phase of reforms."
The move is expected to unlock the real estate potential of smaller parcels of land deemed undevelopable under the existing law.
Bawankule said the Mahayuti govt has so far taken 17–18 key decisions under the revenue department, with implementation already underway.
The minister also said the govt is working on two other legislative measures during the same session, 'One State One Registration' and the provision of vertical ownership rights for high-rise properties, which aim to simplify property transactions and clarify title ownership in urban settings.
Bawankule, who was in Delhi to meet Union power minister Manohar Lal Khattar, discussed the rehabilitation of residents from Kumbhari village in Mauda taluka near Nagpur. The village falls within the NTPC project area, and Bawankule urged that resettlement of affected households be done in the same manner as agricultural land acquisition. "Houses too must be rehabilitated on par with farms," he said.
Reiterating the govt's commitment to promoting the Marathi language, the minister said, "All proceedings of the Maharashtra legislature are conducted in Marathi, and so are all signboards.
Marathi remains at the centre of official communication."
On Prime Minister Narendra Modi's 11-year tenure, Bawankule emphasised the transformation in women's representation across institutions. "From local bodies to Rashtrapati Bhavan, Modi has ensured that women are brought into the mainstream. No other govt has implemented such extensive initiatives for women's empowerment," he said. He credited the prime minister with championing 33% reservation for women in Parliament and state legislatures, calling it a historic step in strengthening their participation in governance.
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