Nagpur, December 11 (NationPress) Maharashtra's Revenue Minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule announced in the state assembly that approximately 70,000 families from Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar and various districts in Marathwada, alongside the Rajura region of Chandrapur, have received essential relief as the protracted issue of ‘Madat Mash’ Inam lands has finally reached a resolution.

“Homes constructed on these lands will now be regularized without the need for any premium (Nazrana). The 'Hyderabad Abolition of Inams and Cash Grants (Amendment) Bill, 2025', which provides Class-1 ownership rights to residents at no cost, was unanimously passed in the Legislative Assembly,” the minister stated.

While introducing the bill, Minister Bawankule noted that under the 1954 Act, these lands were categorized as Occupancy Class-2 (New and Inalienable Tenure), which restricted access to bank loans and prohibited any transfer or sale.

Previously, the regularization process required a payment of either 50% or 5% of the current market value, which deterred many citizens from participating.

“The newly enacted bill specifies that if an individual has utilized the land for residential purposes without prior authorization from the Collector and can produce a registered sale deed or document, the land will be regularized without any premium charges. Moreover, the landholder will be awarded 'Occupancy Class-1' status, conferring full ownership rights,” Minister Bawankule elaborated.

During discussions, NCP (Sharad Pawar Group) legislator and former minister Jayant Patil raised concerns, questioning whether the bill was aimed solely at a few individuals or developers, and if it was intended to safeguard those who have claimed and sold 'Deosthan' (temple) lands.

He urged that it be made clear that this bill does not pertain to Deosthan lands. Similar concerns were echoed by Congress Legislative Party leader Vijay Wadettiwar in his statement.

In response, the Minister assured that the bill is not associated with Deosthan lands and is strictly confined to 'Madat Mash' Inams, affecting 97 groups in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, 10 in Jalna, and other groups in Parbhani, Nanded, Hingoli, Latur, Dharashiv, and Rajura in Chandrapur.

Shiv Sena-UBT's Bhaskar Jadhav raised the plight of fishermen's lands in the Konkan region, stating, “Fishermen have inhabited these lands for generations, yet the property is not registered in their names. They too deserve justice akin to that provided by the Hyderabad Inams.”

BJP legislator Manisha Chaudhari highlighted the necessity for demarcation of Koliwadas and Gaothans in Mumbai.

The Revenue Minister assured that affirmative measures would be implemented to grant 'Gaothan' status to constructions in Konkan and to address the issues in Mumbai.