Specify ownership of state govt plots, lessees told

Mumbai: Lessees and occupants of state government land will have to display certificates, declaring that their properties were granted by the government.      "A notice board has to be displayed on the building premises or on compound walls, visible to the public," said an official.      "This will help the government to keep track of its lands, prevent disputes over ownership and encroachment. It will also ensure there are no secret sales," he added.      One of the biggest controversies in recent years has been the land given to Adarsh housing society in Colaba.      According to rules, a lessee must seek the government's approval before selling the land since 50% of the sale price is to be paid to the government as "unearned income". In case, the sale is done without the government's nod, the state will take 75% of the proceeds as unearned income.      Swadhin Kshatriya, additional chief secretary (revenue and forests) said under the Maharashtra Land Revenue Code the government gives land on lease or on occupancy price. "In case of a lease, the lessee has to pay an annual lease rent; while in case of the latter an occupant pays a lump sum. In both cases, the land is let out for 30 years and is not freehold land," he added.     The government has given land for educational, religious, community and residential purposes. There have been cases where "influential persons" have cornered several plots through organizations. The decision is aimed at preventing such misuse, particularly in case of housing. Recently, the revenue and forests department put up a proposal before the government over the change in lease conditions once a lease expires. According to Kshatriya, there were over 1,600 leasehold plots in Mumbai given by the British for periods ranging from 60 to 999 years.      "The leases of around 650 plots have expired. In these cases, the government now proposes to renew the leases for a 30-year period either on a lease or occupancy price basis," he said. "The annual lease rent will be a percentage of the ready reckoner rate. In case of occupancy price, the occupant will pay 20% in case it is residential, 30% for industrial and 40% for commercial," he added.