The district administration in Pune has taken strict action against individuals who did not pay the required 15% transfer fee, based on the ready reckoner rate, for changing land use from industrial to residential in various areas. Notices have been issued to 531 individuals under Section 20 of the Urban Land Ceiling and Regulation Act, 1976, allowing the state to impose a one-time premium for land use changes. Those who received notices must either pay the fee along with a penalty or face legal action. This action follows the directive of Chief Minister Eknath Shinde to address violations related to land use changes.
In a recent development, the district administration in Pune has taken stern action against individuals who failed to pay the mandatory 15% transfer fee, based on the ready reckoner rate, for converting land use from industrial to residential in various areas, including Hadapsar, Bopodi, Kothrud, Sangamwadi, and Pimpri Chinchwad.
According to officials, a total of 531 notices have been issued under Section 20 of the Urban Land Ceiling and Regulation Act, 1976. This act empowers the state to impose a one-time premium for the regularization of land use changes.
In response to the issuance of these notices, individuals are now faced with two options: either pay the required fee along with a penalty or face legal action. The move comes after Chief Minister Eknath Shinde directed the Pune district collector to initiate action against those who failed to make the necessary payments.
"While there were approximately 1,000 cases of such violations, most individuals promptly paid the transfer fee. The civic body has now issued notices to 531 individuals who changed the land use without fulfilling this requirement. A significant number of these violations were concentrated in industrial areas, and the Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation (MIDC) areas. Out of the 531 notices issued, 151 were directed at landholders in the MIDC area. Hearings have been completed in 68 cases, with six individuals subsequently depositing the required sum with the state government after the hearing.
Previously, the state government had imposed a 100% transfer fee based on the ready reckoner rates for changes in land use. However, due to opposition from citizens, this was reduced to 50% in 2007. In 2019, the government further reduced the fee to just 15% of the ready reckoner rates, with the condition that the converted land must be used for affordable housing purposes. This change was implemented in response to the closure of many industrial units in Pune, resulting in the conversion of industrial land into residential areas.
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