In a major announcement aimed at resolving long-standing land disputes among farmers, Maharashtra Revenue Minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule informed the Legislative Assembly that the state will launch a statewide farm land measurement campaign. The campaign is expected to address disputes related to farmland boundaries, internal pathways, and ownership divisions, which often lead to legal conflicts, enmity, and even criminal cases in rural areas.
The issue was raised in the House by MLA Shivajirao Garje, who highlighted how boundary and access road disputes have severely impacted farmers’ economic progress due to inconsistencies between official land records (Satbara) and actual land possession. He demanded a large-scale land demarcation drive to permanently mark and settle individual land boundaries.
Key Measures and Announcements:
Minister Bawankule acknowledged that while the original land survey was conducted between 1890 and 1930, and land consolidation between 1960 and 1993, errors in Satbara records and lack of sub-division updates have resulted in ongoing conflicts.
Under the Digital India Land Records Modernization Programme, scanning of records in 70% of villages is complete, and mapping of village areas will be finished by September 30, 2025.
A pilot project for sub-plot (pothissa) measurement is underway in three talukas per revenue division, targeting 4.77 lakh sub-plots to be surveyed by March 2026.
Over the next three years, the entire state's sub-plots will be digitally measured and mapped. The government has reduced the survey fee to ₹200, encouraging farmers to come forward voluntarily.
Around 1,200 Rovers and drones are being procured, and GIS technology will be used to digitize the process.
A new policy, "Measure First, Register Later," will be implemented in the next two years to eliminate registration of disputed lands.
In response to questions from other MLAs:
On village boundary (shiv) encroachments, Bawankule assured GIS-based surveys and assigning separate survey numbers to encroached lands.
MLA Chandrakant Raghuvanshi raised the issue of absentees during land measurement; the minister said legal reforms are under consideration.
On road encroachments, Bawankule stated that if an old road exists, new roads will not be approved and that digital mapping of roads will be updated. Strict orders will be issued to address this.
MLA Sadabhau Khot demanded that Tehsildars be given police protection to remove encroachments. MLA Amol Mitkari suggested that farmers who win legal cases should be provided protection to prevent further disputes.
Minister Bawankule concluded by assuring that farmers would no longer need to visit Mantralaya for land issues, and new legislation will soon be introduced to free encroached roads and safeguard farmer rights.
