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Legal & Land-Use Pitfalls When Buying Plots in Konkan — What You Must KnowViral Highway Map Between Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar and Pune Sparks Land Purchase Controversy
A leaked map of a proposed new highway between Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, formerly Aurangabad, and Pune has set off a wave of speculation, real-estate activity and outrage among farmers. Before the government made any announcement officially, the leaked map went viral on social media and stirred controversy over land deals apparently operated by those with insider information.
Unreleased Map Triggers Real-Estate Rush
The viral map purportedly shows the alignment of a yet-to-be-announced highway project. Local reports say there has been a sudden rush in buying plots of land along the supposed alignment since its circulation. Local property agents and investors have been actively acquiring land parcels in anticipation of a massive increase in land value once the highway project is officially declared.
In the meantime, many farmers, unaware of their ancestral lands falling under the scope of the project, have begun selling at relatively low prices — a move likely to result in major financial losses in case the highway indeed passes through their region.
Questions Over the Leak
Sources say that only three government agencies — the surveying agency, the concerned state department, and NHAI — had access to the route map. The fact that this map has surfaced in the open market raises many questions on how this sensitive piece of information was leaked and who benefits from it.
The leak has sparked calls by local activists and opposition politicians for an investigation.
Farmers Demand Transparency
Farmers' associations have been pressing the government to make the compensation policy clear and publish the official highway alignment as soon as possible. They said the absence of such information makes for a selective playing field where only those with access to insider details can gain.
"Ordinary farmers are selling their land in good faith, without knowing that within months, the value of the land would increase. This is exploitation in plain sight," said a local farmers' union representative.
Authorities Under Pressure
Officials have not confirmed whether this viral map is indeed the actual alignment of the proposed highway. It is believed, however, that the MSIDC is working on a preliminary survey for the project. Senior government sources say no official route has been decided upon yet, and public notification would follow only after technical and environmental clearances.
Despite these assurances, speculative buying is unabated, and land prices in some talukas between Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar and Pune have witnessed steep hikes.
Call for Accountability
Opposition leaders and civic activists are demanding that the state government order an investigation into the leak to identify the culprits and protect farmers from being short-changed. Experts say if the issue is not addressed promptly, it may shake the confidence of the public in any future infrastructure projects. The leaked map, meanwhile, has turned the still-unannounced highway into a flashpoint of land speculation, political blame, and rural anxiety — well before asphalt has even been laid.
Purandar Airport: Farmers reject ₹ one crore per acre compensation, demand higher rate
Farmers from seven villages in Pune district’s Purandar taluka have refused the Maharashtra government’s offer of ₹1 crore an acre for land acquisition related to the proposed Purandar International Airport project.
Villages Involved
The proposed airport site covers land from the following villages:
Ekhatpur, Khanwadi, Kumbharvalan, Munjawadi, Pargaon, Udachiwadi, and Vanpuri.
Compensation Offer
District administration officials said the state government has offered a compensation package that includes
₹1 crore an acre for the land acquired, which is roughly four times the ready reckoner rate.
Double compensation for on-site assets like houses, borewells, trees, and pipelines.
Developed plots equivalent to 10 per cent of the land acquired for every project-affected farmer.
Farmers’ Response
Farmer representatives have dismissed the proposal on the grounds that the compensation amount is not sufficient, considering the current land value in the area. They are asking for compensation at five times the ready reckoner rate.
They have also requested that further discussions at the village level be held before a final decision is taken.
Government’s Position
The Pune district administration has reiterated that compensation review processes are ongoing and that once an agreement is reached, distribution may commence by the end of November, officials said.
Background
The Purandar International Airport was initially proposed with the aim of decongesting Pune's existing Lohegaon airport and enhancing regional connectivity. The project site was re-identified several years ago, and land acquisition, which had been delayed due to opposition and reviews of the procedure, has been resumed. Status PRESENT Discussions between government representatives and farmers continue. After consultation with affected villages, the administration is likely to finalise the compensation structure and course of land acquisition.
In urban and regional planning areas, the Maharashtra government has revoked the Maharashtra Prevention of Fragmentation and Consolidation of Holdings Act. The decision aims to regularise small land parcels and simplify land transactions across cities and towns.
Details of the Decision
According to the new amendment, the provisions of the Fragmentation Act will no longer apply to non-agricultural (NA) lands located in urban areas, municipal corporations, municipal councils, and metropolitan development authority regions.
Land transactions carried out between November 15, 1965, and October 15, 2024, will be considered for regularisation. The rule also covers plots up to one guntha (approximately 1,089 square feet) that were subdivided before the cut-off date.
A four-member committee has been appointed to prepare a SOP ( Standard Operating Procedure )for the implementation of the decision. The SOP will outline the process for regularisation, documentation, and verification of eligible land parcels.
Impact on Landowners
The repeal of the Act is expected to provide legal recognition to subdivided plots that were earlier restricted under the 1947 law. Landowners whose plots were previously considered fragmented will now be able to apply for ownership regularisation.
The amendment will allow transactions, registration, and approvals for such plots in accordance with development authority rules and regulations.
Purpose of the Reform
The Fragmentation Act was originally introduced to prevent the division of agricultural land into uneconomic holdings. However, with the expansion of urban areas, many lands previously governed under the Act are now part of municipal or development plan zones.
The latest amendment separates urban non-agricultural lands from the scope of this Act, allowing them to be managed under existing urban planning and development laws.
Implementation
The State Government has directed local authorities and development bodies to follow the upcoming SOP for processing applications related to fragmented land parcels. Only plots created before October 15, 2024, will be eligible under this regularisation process.
The decision is applicable across all urban and regional plan areas in Maharashtra.
Members of the Jain community in Pune have announced that they will launch an indefinite protest if a controversial land deal involving a community trust property in Model Colony is not cancelled.
The land, measuring around 3.5 acres, belongs to the Seth Hirachand Nemchand Smarak Trust, which manages a Jain hostel and temple used by both the Digambar and Śvētāmbara sects. The property is located in a prime area of Pune near Model Colony.
The trust reportedly signed a contract with the private developer Gokhale Landmarks LLP for the property's sale or renovation. Some members of the Jain community have opposed the deal, arguing that the sale process was opaque and that the land is intended for communal use.
According to religious leaders like Acharya Guptinandi Maharaj, the community will start an unending agitation if the sale is not cancelled. Action against the trustees involved in the transaction has also been demanded by protesters.
In response to the growing opposition, the Charity Commissioner’s Office in Maharashtra has ordered a status quo on the property, preventing any transfer or construction work until further review.
Representatives of the trust have maintained that the sale process was legal and approved by the Commissioner’s office. However, following community pressure, Gokhale Landmarks LLP has reportedly communicated its intent to withdraw from the deal.
Further hearings and official decisions regarding the cancellation of the agreement are awaited.
The Maharashtra government has offered a compensation package of ₹1 crore per acre to farmers whose land is being acquired for the proposed Purandar International Airport project near Pune.
District Collector Jitendra Dudi made the announcement, which is a part of the state's attempt to expedite the long-delayed Greenfield airport project. Officials say the new rate is about four times the area's current ready reckoner rate.
Compensation Details
The package includes:
- A cash compensation of ₹1 crore per acre for the acquired land.
- Additional payment equivalent to twice the value of existing structures and agricultural assets such as houses, borewells, and fruit-bearing trees.
- Allocation of 10% of the developed land back to the farmers after the project is completed.
Authorities said that disbursement of compensation is expected to begin by the end of November, following completion of formal procedures.
Villages Affected
The land acquisition covers seven villages — Ekhatpur, Khanwadi, Kumbharvalan, Munjawadi, Pargaon, Udachiwadi, and Vanpuri — in Purandar taluka of Pune district. The total land required for the airport is around 3,200 acres, according to the latest estimates.
The government has already secured consent for nearly 90% of the land, easing one of the major bottlenecks in the project’s progress.
Farmers Seek Higher Compensation
While the offer marks a major step forward, several farmers have said that the proposed rate is “not acceptable.”
Farmer representatives argue that landowners affected by other infrastructure projects in Maharashtra, such as the Samruddhi Mahamarg, have received higher compensation. They are demanding a payout equivalent to five times the ready reckoner rate and have requested further consultations with government officials before final approval.
Maharashtra Government to Issue Individual Property Cards for Flat Owners
The Maharashtra Government has declared its intention to provide individual property cards to all apartment owners in the state.
Currently, property cards in Maharashtra record details only of the landowner or housing society, leaving out information about individual flat owners in multi-storey buildings. To address this gap, the state has decided to introduce a new system of “Vertical Property Cards”, which will contain details of each flat owner, their respective share of the land, and other relevant ownership data.
To implement this initiative, the government has constituted an eight-member committee chaired by Vikas Kharge, Additional Chief Secretary of the Revenue Department. The committee comprises representatives from several departments, including Cooperation, Urban Development, Law and Judiciary, Rural Development, and Registration and Stamps, as well as the Settlement Commissioner and the Director of Land Records. The Joint Secretary of Land Survey will serve as the member-secretary of the panel.
Mandate of the Committee
The committee has been tasked with drafting the Vertical Property Rules, which will define the framework for registering and maintaining records of individual property ownership in multi-storey buildings.
Its responsibilities include:
Studying similar vertical property ownership laws in other states.
Reviewing previous proposals submitted by the Settlement Commissioner’s office.
Preparing a legal and administrative structure to integrate flat ownership data into Maharashtra’s existing land records system.
The committee is expected to submit its recommendations within a month.