With the implementation of Gunthewari Act, 2021, the authorities concerned have announced the schedule for submission of applications to regularise plots. As per the schedule, citizens having their plot/land under the jurisdiction of Nagpur Improvement Trust (NIT) should apply for regularisation by September 5, 2023. The last date of submission of application for the plot-holders under the Nagpur Metropolitan Region Development Authority (NMRDA) has been extended from August 31 to November 30, 2023. The Government of Maharashtra’s Urban Development Department amended the Maharashtra Gunthewari Development Act, 2001 on March 1, 2021.

 

It took long for the State Government to get the Act implemented in the NMRDA. ‘The Hitavada’ has been taking up the issue since long as the Act remained unimplemented for the land under the jurisdiction of the NMRDA. With the latest development, now, the NMRDA also has been brought under the purview of Gunthewari Act. It may be noted that there was a confusion among the plot-holders about the dates and mode of submission of applications as one notice issued by NMRDA stated, ‘Citizens can apply on-line between June 1 and August 31, 2023’. Another notice stated, ‘Citizens should apply till November 30, 2023’. The same notice also stated that no earlier application would be entertained. When ‘The Hitavada’ took up the issue about confusion among the citizens before the Additional Commissioner of NMRDA Avinash Katade, he said, “There has been no confusion.

 

We have clearly bifurcated the process for both the authorities -- NIT and NMRDA. Those having their plots in the ambit of NIT have to apply till September 5, 2023. For NMRDA, the last date was August 31, 2023 which has been extended to November 30, 2023. People who applied earlier off-line have to apply again as we are not considering those applications. We have requested people to apply on-line only. The fees paid by them earlier would be adjusted when they apply on-line again.” Till now NIT has received 84,000 applications while NMRDA got 16,000 applications for regularisation under the Gunthewari Act. Because of not implementation of the Act, earlier people were facing a lot of problems. The sanctions of their building plan were pending. The regularisation of plots means installing water pipelines, sewage system, roads and setting up all basic amenities required for the residential locality.

 

Most people have started constructing their houses without getting any permission from any authorities who might have faced problems in future. They have to apply for regularisation. The regularisation wok will take some more time as Government would need adequate amount of money to do so. According to a developer, at least 50 per cent of the total plot-owners have to apply with the fees. The Government can start the work of regularisation of the plots by utilising the fund received as fees.