BHANDARA: Revenue minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule said that nearly 50% of Bhandara city is settled on nazul land without ownership rights, and assured that the govt is preparing a plan to regularize these properties within a year through drone surveys. He also said that re-survey of sand resources in Bhandara district will soon be undertaken, as official records underestimate the availability of the material.
On sand mining, Bawankule noted that while government documents mention only 7 lakh brass of sand in the district, the actual figure is much higher. “Minimum 25 lakh brass sand is available,” he said.
The minister added that he has instructed the district collector to use technology for the re-survey. “Only after the survey we shall apply for environment clearance. We will also study what was mined (other than sand) in the last 20 years and estimate the loss to the govt,” he said. The auctions for sand mining will be held once the survey is completed.
Bawankule admitted that no ownership process for nazul land has begun in Bhandara’s seven municipal councils. “By ownership I mean they have not got the property cards yet. In rural areas we will use drone survey and give them property cards. For Bhandara city also we will do the same thing. We are working on this proposal and within a year this should be done,” he said.
He further said mapping of ‘pandhan’ roads in villages, last conducted during the British era in the 1930s, has also begun. “Every other road has a number, now we will give a number to every ‘pandhan’ road. This will help in proceeding with development in a proper way,” Bawankule said. He added that trees will be planted along both sides of these roads to deter encroachments and strengthen the plantation drive.
The minister also stressed the importance of direct benefit transfer (DBT) to ensure that beneficiaries receive govt incentives. “From Tuesday, our revenue department will send staffers to every village and every resident. Their DBT documentation will be checked. If someone is not registered, they will be helped,” he said.
Bawankule further warned of strict action against encroachments on govt land, particularly where commercial complexes have come up. On curbing the sand mafia, he said a policy for artificial sand has already been rolled out. “In the next three years, 100% of sand used for PWD projects will be artificial. Every district will get 50 crushers,” he said.
