Continuing with its stand on the decentralisation of power, the state Revenue department has decided to delegate powers of transfer of land to district collectors and the revenue commissioners in Maharashtra.
Uptil now, the revenue minister's nod was required to transfer even a piece of land needed by another department of the state government.
Revenue Minister Eknath Khadse said his department has decided to follow the instructions of Prime Minister Narendra Modi of decentralising powers.
"We will announce a new decision every fortnight," Khadse said adding that as a part of this policy, the department has decided to decentralise power and delegate it to Collectors and Revenue commissioners.
"Now even Collectors and Revenue Commissioners have the power to transfer land belonging to the Revenue department to other departments of the state government," Khadse said.
"We have also doubled the value of land that can be transferred. Collectors can now transfer lands worth Rs 2.5 lakh and a Commissioner can take the decision on the transfer of land worth Rs 12.50 lakh," he said.
The decision of transfer of land worth more than 12.50 lakh will be taken at the minister's level. We hope that this ends corruption, Khadse said.
The revenue department transfers land to government run corporations, public undertakings and other government departments.
Also, government or revenue land at times needs to be transferred for industry and military purposes.
The state applies a transfer fee in such transactions by the minimum rate decided by the government.
"The state government will collect charges as per ready reckoner rate when a state owned land is transferred to the Central government for their work," Khadse said.
