Lokmat News Network
Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar:
The state government has decided to regularise residential encroachments on government and grazing land made before January 1, 2011, across the state as well as the district. District collector Vinay Gowda G.C. has appealed to citizens to submit their applications for regularisation by December 31, 2026.
A large number of residential encroachments have taken place on government and grazing land in both rural and urban areas of the district. As per the “Housing for All” policy of the central and state governments, the district collector in ‘A’ class municipal corporation areas, the sub-divisional officer in ‘B’ and ‘C’ class municipal councils and nagar panchayats, and the respective tehsildar in rural areas have been given the authority, as heads of committees, to take decisions regarding regularisation. Citizens have been urged to submit their applications within the stipulated time.
Application approval process
Within municipal corporation limits, ward officers will be responsible for accepting and scrutinising applications. After verification of documents, recommendations regarding eligibility or ineligibility will be submitted to the municipal commissioner. Following the commissioner’s review, the proposal will be forwarded to the committee headed by the district collector for a final decision.
In ‘B’ and ‘C’ class municipal councils and nagar panchayats, the chief officer will accept and scrutinise applications and then forward proposals to the sub-divisional officer’s committee for further action.
Where to submit applications in rural areas
Citizens in rural areas must submit their applications to the gram sevak, who will forward them to the tehsildar. The final decision will be taken by a committee headed by the tehsildar.
This concession applies only to encroachments made for individual residential purposes and not to institutions. Only those encroachments that existed on or before January 1, 2011, and continue to exist today, will be considered for regularisation, subject to prescribed terms and conditions.
District collector’s digital signature
District collector Gowda has digitally signed the circular regarding the extension of the deadline for regularising residential encroachments on government and grazing land. With the administration initiating online processes from the top level, it is now clear that all departments will be required to function digitally going forward.