The Maharashtra government has announced a major reform in its land policies by relaxing the existing law on land fragmentation. Under the new decision, subdivided land plots created up to January 1, 2025, will be granted legal recognition.

Key Provisions of the Reform

• Regularisation of Small Plots: Subdivided plots measuring up to one guntha (around 1,089 sq ft) will now be considered legal. Owners will be able to secure official ownership, registrations, and building permissions for such properties.
• Impact on Citizens: The move is expected to benefit millions of families across the state who have long faced uncertainty due to the legal status of small, fragmented plots.
• Implementation: A clear standard operating procedure (SOP) will be prepared to streamline layout approvals, road access, registrations, and construction permissions. This is aimed at ensuring transparency and reducing dependency on middlemen.
• Coverage Areas: The reform will apply to urban and semi-urban regions, including municipal areas, councils, nagar panchayats, urban development authority zones, gaothans, and buffer zones extending from 500 meters to up to 2 km outside municipal limits.

Why It Matters

Property owners who own "gunthewari," or unapproved subdivided plots, will benefit from the ruling as they frequently struggle to get building permits and register their properties.  Opportunities for more seamless real estate transactions and development projects will arise as a result of regularisation. 

Local bodies, including municipal corporations, are also working on introducing digital solutions to speed up processing and reduce delays. However, stakeholders believe the government should also work on lowering associated charges, such as registration fees, penalties, and regularisation costs, to make the process more affordable for ordinary citizens.

Looking Ahead

This reform is a crucial step toward updating Maharashtra's land laws.  The state aims to mitigate conflicts, improve property governance, and assist millions of landowners by identifying fragmented plots and establishing a transparent and regular process for their regularisation.