Maharashtra sets up 10-member panel to regularise pre-2011 encroachments in Mumbai, Pune

The move follows a policy decision taken by the Revenue Department on March 25, allowing the regularisation of residential encroachments existing on state government land before January 1, 2011. Representational pic

The Maharashtra government has constituted a 10-member high-level committee to formulate a comprehensive policy for regularising residential encroachments on government land in Mumbai, Pune, and Pimpri-Chinchwad, with the panel tasked with submitting its recommendations within three months, news agency IANS reported.

The move is aimed at addressing urban housing challenges in the three high-density areas and follows directives from Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and Revenue Minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule. The government issued a Government Resolution (GR) announcing the formation of the special committee.

The committee, headed by the Divisional Commissioner of Konkan Division, has been tasked with studying existing frameworks and submitting a report with specific recommendations within three months.

The panel comprises the District Collectors of Mumbai City, Mumbai Suburban and Pune; representatives from the Slum Rehabilitation Authority (SRA) in Mumbai and Pune; representatives from the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) and Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC); and Superintendents of Land Records (SLR) from Mumbai, Mumbai Suburban and Pune.

The Joint Commissioner (General Administration) from the Office of the Divisional Commissioner, Konkan Division, will serve as the member secretary.

Minister Bawankule said the 10-member panel brings together administrative leads and urban planning representatives from the affected regions.

Panel to frame unified policy for state, Central government land encroachments

The committee's terms of reference focus on preparing a cohesive and legally sound operational roadmap. It will review and benchmark existing guidelines of the Slum Rehabilitation Authority (SRA), Maharashtra Housing and Area Development Authority (MHADA) and other regional planning bodies to formulate an overarching policy for regularisation.

The panel will also make specific recommendations to address complex jurisdictional and administrative issues involving encroachments on land owned by the Central Government or its public sector undertakings (PSUs).

According to the GR, the committee will complete consultations, land assessments and stakeholder reviews before submitting its final report to the Revenue Department within the stipulated three-month deadline.

The move follows a policy decision taken by the Revenue Department on March 25, 2026, allowing the regularisation of residential encroachments existing on state government land before January 1, 2011. However, areas under the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) and Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC) were initially excluded from the policy.

The state government has now expanded its approach to address encroachments on both state and Central government land within these municipal limits, the GR said, recognising the need for a unified policy in the three high-density urban areas.

(With IANS inputs)