Mah delegates govt, nazul land approval powers to collectors, divn commissioners

Nagpur: The state govt has delegated powers to district collectors and divisional commissioners to clear transactions involving govt and nazul land without requiring state-level approval, a move aimed at cutting delays in revenue administration, according to a circular issued by the Revenue and Forest Department on Thursday.The delegation covers sale, transfer, redevelopment, FSI use, TDR transfer and change of land use under Section 37-A of the Maharashtra Land Revenue Code, 1966. District collectors can now approve cases where the premium or unearned income involved is up to Rs10 lakh. Divisional commissioners can clear cases between Rs10 lakh and Rs20 lakh. Only cases above Rs20 lakh will require state govt approval.Nagpur guardian minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule said under the CM Devendra Fadnavis, the revenue department has taken an important decision to boost ease of doing business." Bawankule said the decentralisation would bring relief to applicants whose files had been stuck at the state level for years. Bawankule said, "This is another step toward decisive administration, faster service and a more accessible revenue system."The circular also directs all district collectors to conduct a three-month special drive to identify unauthorised transactions on govt and nazul land within their jurisdictions and regularise them within the prescribed financial limits. Cases involving violations above Rs20 lakh must be referred to the state govt immediately.The circular further mandates that all collectors submit a detailed report on transactions carried out in the past three months, along with a compliance review of conditions attached to earlier approvals.The order amends and supersedes earlier notifications dated Dec 2015, Sept 2016 and a GR dated July 2023.