Maharashtra Govt Approves Conversion of One Lakh Acres of Class II Land to Freehold

The Maharashtra Government has cleared a proposal to convert more than one lakh acres of Class II land in Marathwada into freehold, making the occupants complete owners. The decision was taken during a cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Eknath Shinde in Mumbai today. According to an official statement, the decision is based on a 60-year-old demand to convert 1.4 lakh acres of Class II land. Class II occupancy is a conditional holding where land is given to individuals for various reasons, including as rewards and to religious structures for their maintenance.

The cabinet has also approved a revised budget of 37 thousand crore rupees for the construction and repair of six thousand kilometres of roads. The government has said that the roads will be concretized instead of using asphalt seal coating.

The cabinet has further approved the implementation of a medical reimbursement scheme for teaching and non-teaching staff of Deccan College, Gokhale Institute of Economics and Political Science, and Tilak Maharashtra University. A proposal to provide a lump sum amount as remuneration to retired teachers of government and private medical colleges was also approved. Meanwhile, a decision to increase the tenure of mayors from the current two and a half years to five years was also taken during the meeting.