Ban on land deals in Gosikhurd project lifted

BHANDARA: The nearly three-decade-long ban on sale and purchase of land in the command area of Gosikhurd

national irrigation project

was lifted by the district collector on Thursday.

The ban was imposed on 10,352 hectares in 104 villages of the project-affected area as well as on 75,975 hectares in 287 villages of the command area.

The state government first imposed the ban on July 21, 1988, by issuing a notification (GR) under section 11 (1) of the

Rehabilitation of Project Affected Persons Act

. The government then issued a second notification on March 4, 1994, for

Gosikhurd

national irrigation project. Similarly, another GR was issued under section 13(1) of the Act banning sale, purchase, conversion and partition of land.

With the ban in place, the land owner was allowed to sell, make a partition and convert 3.23 hectares but with prior permission of the district collector. According to the GR, the land of the owner was reserved and mentioned in revenue records so that he cannot sell it. As a result, farmers found themselves in a spot of bother as they could not sell their land and get money for the education, marriage and healthcare of their loved ones.

District collector Dr

Abhijit Chaudhari

took the decision after a thorough study of the long-pending issue. District rehabilitation officer Vijaya Bankar prepared draft which was approved by district collector,notification is issued today to lift ban on sale,partition and conversion of land in affected and command area of the project.After 28 years ban is lifted and farmers heaved a sigh of relief.

District administration has decided to organize special camps for farmers to correct mention of said entry in record of rights which will be most benefitial for farmers of affected and command area.MLA Adv Ramchandra Avasare said that it’s a epoch making decision of district collector Dr Abhijit Chaudhari who has taken a lead and solved a long pending issue, wehave fulfilled our promise given during assembly election,BJP always adored the farmers cause and it is done for benefit of farmers.