The Mahavikas Aghadi Government launched Gunthewari 2.0 scheme to fulfill the dream of citizens of their own home. Unfortunately, the Nagpur Improvement Trust (NIT) has regularised less than 5,000 unauthorised plots out of 1 lakh applications in the last 41 months, pointed out MLA and City Congress President Vikas Thakre in a press release. He alleged that NIT has asked registered sale deed, which is against the High Court order. West Nagpur MLA Vikas Thakre demanded that the NIT should complete the regularization process within a month and regularise the plots if they have legal possession as per the order of the High Court. Thakre has made this demand in a letter sent to the Chairman of NIT. The Congress-led government in Maharashtra enacted the Maharashtra Gunthewari Development (Regulation, Reform and Control) Act-2001 on April 30, 2001.

 

The Government of Maharashtra entrusted the responsibility of regularisation of Gunthewari plots in Nagpur to NIT. Gunthewari plots developed on or before January 1, 2001 were eligible for regularisation under the Act. Over the past 23 years, NIT has regularised hundreds of Gunthewari plots by considering unregistered sale agreements. Due to this act, hundreds of people realized their dream of owning a house. The Maha Vikas Aghadi Government enacted the Maharashtra Gunthewari Development (Regulation, Improvement and Control) Amendment Act-2021 from 12-03-2021. Unauthorized plots developed on or before December 31-12-2020 are eligible for regularization under this Act. Thakre pointed out, NIT has received more than 1 lakh applications for regularization, accordingly people submitted the same. Unfortunately, less than 5,000 plots have been regularized in 41 months.

 

Based on the proposal submitted by the Urban Development Department (UDD) officials to the Chief Minister's Office, the NIT has initiated the demand for registered sale deed for regularization of Gunthewari plots. The Government of Maharashtra has not issued any decision or circular seeking registered sale agreement. NIT cannot act on the basis of internal communication or proposal submitted by officials of UDD. Stopping regularization under the Gunthewari Act due to lack of registered sale agreement is an anti-people step and defeats the purpose of the Gunthewari Act, Thakre felt. He demanded that NIT should continue regularization on the basis of unregistered sale agreement if there is legal possession of the plots as per the practice of 23 years.