NAGPUR: Deputy chief minister and urban development minister Eknath Shinde informed the state assembly that a committee will be formed to address concerns regarding the Gunthewari Act and land regularisation issues in Nagpur. He assured that the committee would work as per chief minister Devendra Fadnavis’ directions and take appropriate decisions.
He pointed out that while regularisation is underway in areas like Hudkeshwar under the Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC), the Nagpur Improvement Trust (NIT) is still collecting fees from plot holders, leading to confusion and financial burden.
Datke further alleged that incorrect advance fees are being charged while leasing plots, putting additional strain on residents. Many residents who purchased plots decades ago are now being asked to pay high fees to lease their own land again, raising concerns about unfair financial demands. He emphasised that this issue needs immediate resolution, as thousands of middle-class families are struggling with the bureaucratic hurdles imposed by multiple agencies.
Additionally, Datke pointed out that while the state govt has taken steps to regularise plots under the new Gunthewari Act, a key clause mandates that 10% of the land from such plots be handed over to NMRDA. He questioned whether the govt planned to settle the matter for the affected 1.5 lakh plot holders, who have already paid regularisation fees but are now facing additional land surrender requirements.
Datke also criticised NIT, accusing it of charging fees for regularisation while failing to undertake any substantial work in the affected areas. He called for NIT to be dissolved and its functions merged with NMRDA to ensure better coordination and governance. He reiterated that the overlapping roles of NIT and NMRDA have led to inefficiencies, making the regularisation process needlessly complicated and costly for the public.
Shinde responded that the newly formed committee would review financial transactions between NIT and the municipal corporation, evaluate NIT’s role in urban development, and decide on its future. The committee will also examine how much money has been collected from plot holders, how much should be transferred to NMC, and whether adjustments can be made to ease the financial burden on citizens.
He emphasised that the state govt would act based on the committee’s findings and discussions with the chief minister. He assured that all aspects, including financial transparency, regularisation fees, and administrative efficiency, would be considered before taking a final decision.
The demand for NIT’s dissolution has been ongoing in Nagpur, with increasing public dissatisfaction over its handling of land regularisation and urban planning. The upcoming committee’s findings and subsequent govt actions will be closely monitored by residents and stakeholders alike, as they await concrete resolutions to the long-pending issues surrounding land ownership and development in the city.
