Maharashtra govt to issue property titles to five lakh dispalced Sindhi families

Indian Express

3 days ago

The Maharashtra government will issue property titles to around five lakh displaced Sindhi families living in 35 cities across the state, excluding Thane and Ulhasnagar, Revenue Minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule announced on Tuesday.
The decision will be part of a series of measures to be implemented during the state's upcoming Revenue Week, from August 1 to 7, 2025. Key decisions during the week include regularising pre-2011 encroachments on state government land, resolving disputes over farm roads, and penalising violations of lease agreements on government-allotted land.
Around 30 lakh families will benefit from the state government decision of regularising pre-2011 encroachments on state government lands. The state cabinet had taken the decision in year 2018 which will be re-enforced in the revenue week.
During the week, district collectors will conduct a survey to assess if land leased by the government is being used for its intended purpose. In cases of misuse or encroachment, the land will be reclaimed by the state, Bawankule said.
He said that 'Special Abhay Yojana-2025' will be implemented, and residential and commercial lands in 30 colonies of the Sindhi community, who migrated after the partition of 1947, will be regularized and made free-hold (occupier class-1) by breaking the conditions as per the rules.The move comes as part of a special policy led by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis to address long-standing demands of the Sindhi community, fulfilling the promise made in the election manifesto.
The Sindhi community in 30 colonies in the state, including Nagpur, Jalgaon, Mumbai, will get legal ownership rights of their houses and establishments. 'This scheme will be implemented through the Revenue Department. This will give justice to the demands of the Sindhi community for years,' Bawankule said.
Bawankule also said that the government has decided to give priority to the use of artificial sand (M sand). 'Action will be taken to implement this policy and complete the policy as per the new Standard Operating Procedure (SOP). Under this, workshops/camps etc. will be organized on August 7 to make this policy a success,' said Bawankule.
Additionally, the government will launch the Rashtraneta to Rashtrapita Abhiyan from September 17 — Prime Minister Narendra Modi's birthday — to October 2, Mahatma Gandhi's birth anniversary. As part of this drive, a Face App will be introduced to help revenue officers mark attendance from their respective field locations.
A drone-based survey of all rural land parcels will also begin shortly, with the goal of issuing property cards to every household in villages within the next two years.