In a significant move aimed at protecting ecologically sensitive hill stations, the Maharashtra Government has withdrawn all delegated powers from district-level officers and mandated that every proposal related to government lands in these areas be sent to the state level for final approval.
The Revenue and Forests Department issued a Government Resolution (GR) bearing number Land-2026/Pr.No.39/Land-1 (E-1539259) on July 14, 2026, specifically covering popular hill stations including Mahabaleshwar, Panchgani, Matheran, Chikhaldara, Lonavala, Khandala, Toranmal, and Igatpuri.
Key Provisions of the GR
The order covers three major categories of cases on government lands allotted on occupancy rights or leasehold basis:
- Regularization of Encroachments: All cases of unauthorized occupation or construction, irrespective of the premium amount involved, must now be submitted to the State Government for approval after thorough scrutiny.
- Conversion of Occupancy Class-2 to Class-1: Proposals to upgrade lands from restricted Bhogvataar Varg-2 to full-ownership-like Varg-1 status will also require complete state government approval, regardless of the conversion premium.
- Renewal of Expired Leases: All requests for renewal of leases that have lapsed or are nearing expiry must be forwarded to the government.
The GR emphasizes that proposals must be examined in accordance with the Maharashtra Land Revenue Code, 1966, and previous government resolutions on land conversion and lease renewal. Crucially, inputs from the Forest Department and Environment Department will be mandatory before forwarding files to Mantralaya.
Background and Rationale
The government noted inconsistencies in how field-level officers were handling such cases in hill stations. It highlighted the unique importance of these areas — not only as tourism hotspots but also as vital zones for environmental conservation, biodiversity, public health (acting as natural sanatoriums), and the state’s overall economy.
This decision effectively overrides earlier delegations of financial powers given to District Collectors (up to ₹1 crore for conversions) and Divisional Commissioners, bringing all such matters under direct state scrutiny.
The move comes in the backdrop of the Maharashtra Land Revenue (Conversion of Class-2 to Class-1) Rules, 2025, and multiple previous notifications issued in 2025 and 2026.
Implications
- For Developers & Landholders: Processes are likely to become slower and more stringent, with greater emphasis on environmental compliance.
- For Environment: Stronger protection against unregulated development in fragile hill ecosystems.
- For Homebuyers & Investors: Increased regulatory oversight may reduce risks of illegal constructions but could also delay legitimate projects.
The GR instructs all Divisional Commissioners, District Collectors, and concerned officers to strictly comply with the new directives. The full order has been made available on the Maharashtra government portal with reference code 202607141823040948.
This latest step reflects the state’s continued focus on sustainable development and tighter control over sensitive ecological zones.
Also Read: MHADA removes encroachment on its 9 acre land in Mumbai
