The Maharashtra government appears to have taken inspiration from Goa’s “Mjahe Ghar” scheme by approving the regularisation of residential encroachments on government land.
Under the plan, land occupied up to 500 sq ft will be granted free of cost. For plots between 500 and 1,500 sq ft, residents will not be evicted but must pay 10% of the current market value as occupancy fees, while commercial structures will be charged 25%. The land will be registered jointly in the names of both spouses, and a nominal registration fee of Rs 1,000 will apply for plots up to 1,000 sq ft.
The scheme applies only to encroachments that existed before January 1, 2011, with proof required. However, it excludes eco-sensitive and public-use areas such as forests, riverbeds, grazing lands, roads, cremation grounds, playgrounds, and land reserved for schools and hospitals. It is also not applicable in Mumbai and its suburbs.
While the government sees this as a way to provide housing to low-income groups, critics argue it rewards illegal occupation over lawful ownership.
