State to issue free rural property cards; sanad fees waived

Nagpur: The state govt announced that villagers across the state will receive property cards free of cost under the Centre's Swamitva scheme. Sanad fees for ownership regularisation will also be waived to ease the burden on rural residents and accelerate settlement of property records.Revenue minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule made the announcement during a review meeting held at the Konkan Divisional Commissioner's office on Wednesday, saying the state govt intends to simplify the process of granting legal ownership rights to rural households. The Nagpur district guardian minister said the decision would come into effect after necessary corrections in Gram Panchayat Form No. 8. He directed the Rural Development Department to prepare a formal proposal for approval. Rural Development minister Jaykumar Gore has assured full cooperation for speeding up implementation of the project. Bawankule said the initiative would help reduce long-pending rural property disputes and strengthen legal clarity over ownership.As per revenue department officials, large-scale digital land mapping and property measurement exercises have been completed across the state using modern surveying equipment following directions issued by CM Devendra Fadnavis.Bawankule said around 39 lakh rural properties were surveyed under the Swamitva scheme, while online processing of nearly 18 lakh property cards was completed. The state has also completed updated mapping work in nearly 23,000 gram panchayats.Villages where the survey process is completed will now receive final maps and inquiry records free of cost through gram panchayats. Officials said the scheme primarily focuses on preparing accurate ownership records by scientifically measuring rural residential properties. Bawankule further announced that properties located up to 200 metres beyond village settlement boundaries would also be surveyed and regularised for residential purposes. This, he said, would enable residents to obtain official ownership documents for their homes without additional financial burden.The revenue department will also provide updated details required for revising gram panchayat records, including ownership names, final property survey numbers and land area measurements. "Administration must ensure that no hurdles arise in implementation of the Swamitva scheme," the Kamptee MLA said.The Swamitva scheme, launched nationally to modernise rural land records and reduce disputes, has emerged as one of the key governance initiatives aimed at strengthening property rights and improving rural planning.