Eknath Khadse

Close on the heels of a raging controversy over allotment of government land at concessional rates to Bollywood actress and BJP MP, Hema Malini, comes the state government’s decision to bring uniformity in land valuation rates. However, revenue minister Eknath Khadse said that the decision has nothing to do with the Ms Malini issue.

The state Cabinet on Tuesday approved the decision to bring uniformity in valuation of government land given to persons and institutions for non-agricultural (NA) purposes. Elaborating on the technicality of the Cabinet decision, revenue secretary Manu Kumar Shrivastava said that government land is allotted in two ways on occupation or lease basis for NA purposes. “These lands are in urban areas, close to urban areas, and in rural areas. The valuation of land is arrived at based on market rates,” he said.

He said that for government land in urban areas, its valuation will be based on rateable value applicable to the category under which that land falls. For government land in areas close to urban areas, valuation will be arrived at on the basis of category of land or nearest market value or nearest probable NA rate. For government land in rural areas, valuation will be based on nature of agricultural land, its fertility, whether it is close to the highway etc.

Mr Khadse told media persons that government lands were given at concessional rates as per Government Resolutions (GRs) of 1976 and 1983 and the government normally reviewed the policy every 10 years. About the decision, he clarified that it does not mean government lands will be given at concessional rates. The minister also maintained that the decision has nothing to do with land allotted to Ms Malini at Ambivali. He added that the government is yet to calculate the value of that land.

Replying to queries about similar allotments to institutions belonging to Congress and NCP leaders, Mr Khadse said that if these institutions did not make use of the land within the stipulated period, the government would take it back provided it had its say.