32 govt land withdrawal orders issued over tenure violations in district

Pune: The district administration has issued 32 orders for withdrawal of govt land for violations of land lease conditions attached to plots allotted to class-II occupants and leaseholders, senior district administration officials told TOI on Wednesday.

The action comes amid a wider crackdown on irregularities involving govt-leased land across the district following recommendations made by the inquiry committee headed by additional chief secretary revenue Vikas Kharge, who had carried out inquiry regarding Mundhwa land parcel.

Earlier, a district-wide survey of 2,161 govt land parcels leased on a long-term basis in Pune district had detected 356 violations, prompting the administration to initiate hearings and recovery proceedings. The Kharge panel had recommended restoration of illegally transferred or misused govt land within six months.

Officials from the Pune collectorate said notices had already been issued to leaseholders and hearings were nearing completion.

“In some cases, land had to be taken back while in others penalties will be levied for regularisation,” officials said.

Violations detected during the survey include non-renewal of leases, unauthorised constructions, change of land use, sub-letting, occupation beyond sanctioned areas, failure to utilise land within stipulated timelines and deviations from approved plans.

Officials said Pune city and Haveli taluka recorded the highest number of breaches, followed by Loni Kalbhor, Ambegaon and Khed.

According to collectorate data, the highest number of land withdrawal orders — 13 — was issued in Pune city division, followed by Junnar with four cases. Khed and Indapur recorded three cases each, while Pimpri Chinchwad, Mulshi, Ambegaon and Bhor reported two cases each. One case was recorded in Upper Tehsil Lonikand.

No such orders were reported from Haveli, Maval, Purandar, Shirur, Baramati, Daund and Velhe tehsils.

Officials said the action pertains to lands where tenure or lease conditions were allegedly breached, following which proceedings were initiated to vest the land back with the govt.

Revenue officials stated that scrutiny of land transactions and tenure violations has intensified across Pune district, particularly in rapidly urbanising areas witnessing a sharp rise in land prices. The administration has been examining cases involving alleged unauthorised transfers, misuse of land and breaches of conditions attached to occupancy or lease grants..