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How to Find Undervalued Land That Delivers High Returns: A Comprehensive Research GuidePune’s Big Clean-Up: Over 300 Illegal Resorts Demolished Near Dam Zones ( Khadakwasla- Panshet Belt)
Pune recently saw one of the biggest environmental protection drives in this part of the country when over 300 illegal resorts, hotels, and commercial structures built around Khadakwasla, Panshet, Pavana, and Kasarsai dam belts were razed by the authorities. The drive is a significant moment in the city's attempt to restore water safety, protect natural resources, and maintain the ecological balance of its dam catchment areas.
Why This Crackdown Was Needed
Over the years, unauthorised commercial development in the dam areas has grown at a fast pace. With breathtaking views and correspondingly high tourist demand, many businesses sprouted up with resorts, hotels, and recreational facilities, often without permits, on restricted land, or in violation of environmental laws.
These constructions posed serious threats:
- Untreated sewage and waste enter the waters of the dam.
- Either way, pollution is affecting the quality of Pune's drinking water supply.
- Soil erosion and ecological disturbance
- Increased tourist flow is detrimental to the fragile environment.
Water from the catchment areas of these dams supplies a major part of Pune and nearby regions. Any contamination directly affects public health, farming, and the city's water security.
The government launched a coordinated interdepartmental action that involved:
- The Water Resources Department
- Revenue officials
- Local municipal bodies
- Police teams
- Heavy equipment operators
It was a campaign of demolitions characterised by speed and precision: many of these structures were big business establishments that needed excavators, cranes, and transport vehicles for safe dismantling.
Undeterred by the resistance from some of the property owners, the administration continued the operation uninterruptedly. It was crystal clear: no compromise while protecting the water sources.
Quick Benefits:
Relief has finally come to the catchment belt with the removal of over 300 illegal structures. Authorities have succeeded in:
- Reduced pollution risks
- Prevented further sewage discharge into reservoirs
- Restored natural drainage patterns
- Improved ecological balance
A Strong Message Against Encroachment
The scale of the operation shows that the government intends to reclaim all restricted zones, especially those linked to critical public resources such as dams, rivers, and forests.
Landowners, developers, and commercial operators in sensitive zones have been given a final warning: illegal building, no matter how lucrative, will not be tolerated.
Impact on Local Communities
It's a loss for some of the local businesses that depend on it for their livelihood. But larger stakes are involved in this long-term equation: preservation of clean water sources and a sustainable environment ensures better living conditions for generations to come.
Additionally, legal businesses and compliant eco-tourism ventures will profit from a cleaner and more regulated environment.
What This Means for Pune’s Future
This drive is much more than an administrative action-it is a pointer to the fact that environmental stewardship has turned out to be very key for a swelling metropolis like Pune. This is all the more important when natural resources in urban growth are sought to be protected.
Authorities are expected to:
- Enhance patrols in sensitive areas
- Apply more restrictive permissions regarding commercial activity.
- Promote sustainable, controlled tourism.
- Engaging local communities in conservation efforts
Conclusion
Demolishing over 300 such illegal structures near the dam catchment areas is an important step to protect the city's water supply and environmental health. The drive restores ecological balance and reduces pollution while emphasising compliance with environmental laws. Such actions would help to ensure that development remains sustainable and responsible as the city continues to grow.
Source- Punekar News
When Selling Land — A Real Case That Teaches Important Tax Lessons
Many people in India buy and sell land or houses. When they sell, they often earn a good profit, known as a capital gain.
But most people don’t know how to save tax on this profit, and even small mistakes can cause big tax problems.
A recent Income Tax Tribunal case from Chennai teaches us some very useful lessons about this.
What Happened in the Case
A man sold his property and made a profit.
He wanted to save tax under Section 54 of the Income Tax Act, which allows people to avoid paying tax on profit if they buy or build another house within a set time (usually 2 years to buy or 3 years to build).
However, he made one mistake — he did not deposit the remaining sale amount into the Capital Gains Account Scheme (CGAS) before the last date of filing his Income Tax Return.
Because of this, the Income Tax Department refused to give him the tax exemption.
What the Tribunal Said
The man appealed to the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal (ITAT), Chennai.
The Tribunal looked at the facts and gave an important judgment:
The man did use the money from the sale to buy new land and start construction within the allowed period.
His intention was genuine — he was not trying to avoid tax unfairly.
So, even though he missed the step of putting money in the special CGAS account before the due date, the tribunal said he should still get the exemption.
The tribunal said that the main purpose of Section 54 is to encourage people to reinvest in a new home, not to punish them for a small technical delay.
So, as long as the investment in property is made in time, the benefit should not be denied.
What You Can Learn from This
1. Understand Section 54 well
If you sell a house or land and make a profit, you can save tax if you reinvest in another house within the given time limit.
2. Capital Gains Account Scheme (CGAS)
If you cannot use the money before the end of the financial year, you must normally deposit it in a special CGAS account in a bank before the return-filing due date.
However, if you still invest the money in time (even without depositing), this case shows you may still get relief — but it’s safer to follow the rule properly.
3. Keep proof of your investment
Always keep your sale deed, purchase receipts, construction bills, and bank statements. If the tax officer asks questions, these documents protect you.
4. Plan before selling your property
Talk to a tax consultant or CA before you sell. They can guide you on how to manage your finances and save tax properly.
Why This Case Matters
Many property owners lose tax benefits due to small mistakes, such as missing a deadline or not depositing money correctly.
This case shows that courts look at the true intention — if you have used the money for the right purpose, you can still get justice.
But the safest option is always to follow every rule carefully and keep full records.
PMC to Acquire 22.26 Hectares for Mula-Mutha Riverfront Development
For the Mula-Mutha Riverfront Development Project, the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) has chosen to purchase 22.26 hectares of land. The land parcels are owned by the Forest Department, the Women and Child Welfare Department, and the Defense Department.
Officials claim that the riverfront development extends 44.4 km inside the city limits. Land acquisition has been a major obstacle to the project's goals of beautifying and redeveloping both banks of the river.
Land Details
- Defence Department (Sangamwadi): Around 7 hectares
- Women & Child Welfare Department (Mundhwa): Around 3.4 hectares, currently marked for a botanical garden
- Forest Department (Koregaon Park): Around 11 hectares
Defence Department Approval
PMC has received consent from the Defence Department to use its land. In return, PMC will undertake works worth ₹32 crore at locations identified by the Defence authorities. A formal agreement will be signed soon.
District Collector Jitendra Dudi, Additional Commissioner Prithviraj B.P., City Engineer Prashant Waghmare, Project Department Head Dinkar Gojare, and Executive Engineer Bipin Shinde attended a review meeting presided over by PMC Commissioner Naval Kishore Ram.
City Engineer Waghmare confirmed that talks with the Women & Child Welfare and Forest Departments are in progress for the transfer of their respective land parcels.
Parts of the project are being carried out under a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model. However, PMC officials said that complete land availability is necessary for smooth execution. Commissioner Ram directed the departments to expedite the acquisition to avoid further delays.
Maharashtra to Relax Land Fragmentation Law, Subdivided Plots to be Legalised
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.
Property Division Now Possible for Just ₹100: A Major Relief for Families and Farmers
In India, family property disputes have long been a source of stress, frequently lasting years because of ambiguous ownership and expensive registration fees. Because formal land division was costly, time-consuming, and legally complex, many families have avoided it until now. Instead, verbal agreements were common, leading to misunderstandings, conflicts, and in many cases, prolonged court battles.
In a major reform, the government has now simplified the rules for legal land division, allowing families to complete the process officially at a cost of just ₹100.
The New Simplified Process
According to recent reports, the process has been made much more transparent and affordable:
- Family Register Update – Every family member must be listed in the Parivarik Register maintained by the local Circle Officer. Missing names will not be eligible for a share.
- Application Submission – Applicants need to provide ID proof, land ownership documents, and family relationship certificates, such as a ration card or family ID.
- ₹100 Stamp Paper – After approval, families can purchase a ₹100 stamp paper on which the division details, such as boundaries, shares, and names of each member, are recorded.
- Legal Ownership Issued – Once verified and registered, each member receives official ownership documents, enabling them to sell, mortgage, or apply for government benefits.
Benefits of the Reform
- For farmers: Having clear land ownership makes it easier for them to access government programs and obtain agricultural loans.
- For women, stronger property rights are ensured by the legal recognition of their share.
- For Families: Makes land distribution clear and legally binding, preventing future conflicts.
A Step Towards Transparency
Experts note that this initiative will reduce land-related litigation and bring clarity to property ownership. This action is anticipated to greatly reduce the burden of the millions of cases involving inheritance and division that are still pending in Indian courts. Additionally, it supports the government's overarching objective of establishing an effective, transparent, and fraud-free land record system that benefits both urban and rural households.
Conclusion
All societal segments can now afford property division thanks to the government's simplification of the procedure and reduction of the cost to just ₹100. This reform ensures economic strength for farmers, legal empowerment for women, and peace of mind for families by simplifying and lowering the cost of what was once a complex legal process.
Residents Request Halt to PMRDA’s Auction of Amenity Plots, Seek Civic Use
Residents have urged the Pune Metropolitan Region Development Authority (PMRDA) to halt its proposed auction of amenity plots, emphasising that the land should instead be utilised for civic purposes.
The availability of essential community infrastructure, such as parks, schools, health facilities, water systems, and public safety facilities, may be impacted by the sale of these plots, the locals stressed. Amenity plots are designed to satisfy public needs in accordance with regional planning regulations.
PMRDA has planned the auction of 35 amenity plots across various areas in the region, with a combined estimated base value of approximately ₹91 crore. Earnest money deposits for the plots vary according to their size and location.
Officials from PMRDA stated that the auction is being conducted in line with the Unified Development Control and Promotion Regulations (UDCPR). Additionally, they mentioned that some plots are set aside for public buildings like cultural centres and libraries. Similar amenity plot auctions have been held in the area before by PMRDA.
In spite of this, locals insist that these plots are essential for community growth and shouldn't be viewed as extra resources for making money. They have called for these lands to be preserved for civic purposes, citing the need for public infrastructure to support local population growth and development.