Maharashtra government to create special machinery for clearing up wakf land

Moving to vacate encroachments on over 93,000 acres of prime wakf land located across Maharashtra and to monetise the value of these religious endowments for the welfare of Muslims, the state government is planning to create a special machinery for the removal of these encumbrances. It's also planning to link the lands to the ready reckoner rate, doing away with the present system of charging nominal lease for them.

Moving to vacate encroachments on over 93,000 acres of prime wakf land located across Maharashtra and to monetise the value of these religious endowments for the welfare of Muslims, the state government is planning to create a special machinery for the removal of these encumbrances. It's also planning to link the lands to the ready reckoner rate, doing away with the present system of charging nominal lease for them.

"We are planning to increase the amount when we renovate the leases," revenue minister Eknath Khadse, who also holds charge of the minority welfare department, told dna. He added that the leases on many land parcels, which had been given out for 99 years and 39 years, were due for renewal soon.

"We are planning a special machinery to remove the encroachments (on wakf lands). Once they are removed, the land can be utilised for the welfare of the community."

State government statistics show Maharashtra has around 93,418 acres of wakf land spread over about 23,566 registered properties, with the maximum land parcels in Aurangabad division, followed by 9,310 acres in Pune division, 9,260 acres in Nagpur division, 8,350 acres in Nashik, 5,941 acres in the Konkan and 2,755 acres in Amravati.

According to the chief minister's study group headed by former IAS officer Mehmood-ur-Rehman, which submitted a report on the 'Socio-economic and educational backwardness of the Muslims in Maharashtra,' no detailed survey has been conducted to ascertain the exact extent of encroachment on wakf properties and about 60% of wakf land is under encroachment in Marathwada alone.

"Renowned politicians, well wishers of the community and Muslim intellectuals have often been expressing their views that if proper use of the properties is made and they are honestly managed, it can help uplift a large section of the deprived community. But unfortunately due to mismanagement and misappropriation on a large scale, it has been observed that every year encroachment and illegal sale of wakf properties has been rising," it noted.

"Apart from encroachment by the government, semi-government departments, and local bodies, the properties and open spaces are also in illegal possession of individuals, especially builders, politicians and other influential people," the report added, recommending that prime land or plots must be given on lease or on rent to banks or corporates to collect appropriate rent.

In the winter session, after Khadse had said to do away with the encroachments on wakf lands, the state had invited expressions of interest for collecting data about the encumbrances through satellite and videographic surveys.

In 2011, in a sustained drive across the state, the government had managed to recover over 465 acres of encroached land, most of which is in the Marathwada region. The department had also initiated action to recover 1,208 acres spread across 1,088 properties in districts like Aurangabad, Jalna, Parbhani, Nanded, Osmanabad, Latur, Beed, Pune, Nashik, Amravati, Sangli, Nagpur, Ahmednagar, Dhule and Jalgaon.

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Maharashtra government to create special machinery for clearing up wakf land