Chandrashekhar Bawankule: Internal disputes adversely impacted the department’s functioning. There was massive unrest due to long-pending promotions, and those promoted were not given posting for over eight years. To tackle the problem, we promoted 80 deputy collectors to the rank of additional collectors with immediate orders for posting in the first 100 days. We also selected tehsildars, naib tehsildars, assistant revenue officers, etc.

There was bitterness between direct IAS recruits who rose to higher ranks faster and promoted officers who were stuck in the same post. The reshuffle and posting within the department was necessary to break the monopoly and tackle corruption. It helped to fill the backlog with regard to the backward regions of Vidarbha and Marathwada which were under-represented. It came to our notice that there were 68 such officers at various levels who always retained posting within Western Maharashtra and the Konkan region. Along with Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis we inculcated transparency and accountability. It is just the beginning. We have to strengthen and sustain the reforms ahead.

How will you address the issue of pending cases?

Chandrashekhar Bawankule: It remains a serious concern as there are cases pending for final hearing since 2012-13. There are 13,000 cases that need to be taken up expeditiously. To fast-track them, we are planning to adopt Artificial Intelligence (AI). Across the world, AI is being seen as an effective tool for settling legal cases. We are exploring the options for revenue cases. We intend to reduce pendency to zero within three years.

What is the One District, One Registration model?

Chandrashekhar Bawankule: The concept of One District, One Registration will be further upgraded to One State, One Registration. The idea is that individuals should be able to access the registration process of documents related to revenue land records, stamp, property, etc, from any sub-registrar office across Maharashtra. Currently, the option is restricted within a district. To achieve this, we are planning to set up 85 additional offices.

What are the reforms underway in ready-reckoner rates?

Chandrashekhar Bawankule: We have proposed micro-zoning for better ready-reckoner rates. It will be taken up in Mumbai as a pilot project. For example, if you have a five-star hotel in Colaba or Lower Parel and there are slums alongside it, then the ready-reckoner evaluation for high-end five-star property and low-income property or slums cannot be the same. We have to take into account the low-income category, and accordingly determine the ready-reckoner rate.

Despite policy changes, the sand mafia and related crimes continue to exist.

Chandrashekhar Bawankule: To effectively tackle the menace of sand mining along the riverbank as well as the mafia, we have to ensure that there is no mismatch in supply and demand. More importantly, it has to be done in time. So we have moved to an M-Sand policy. It is a credible alternative as sand will be manufactured from mining areas, stone quarries, and from construction and demolition waste, which would be processed and strengthened to meet the requirements. The policy entails private and public partnership where the government will give incentives for setting up an M-plant.

What is your revenue generation target for 2025-26?

Chandrashekhar Bawankule: The revenue generated from stamp duty and registration for the year 2024-25 stands at Rs 55,000 crore. By 2025-26, it will rise to Rs 60,000 crore. In the next five years, we have set a target to make it Rs 1 lakh crore. We are still working on the roadmap.

Can you elaborate on the road access connectivity project?

Chandrashekhar Bawankule: Under the Panand Rasta Yojna, we will provide an access pathway across farms in 40,000 villages. It is a mammoth exercise which will be done under Mission 2031. The purpose is to provide a decent access road to villagers, leading to every field. The total pathway will be more than 5 lakh km. It is estimated that the expenditure will be Rs 12 lakh per kilometre. The project is significant for the rural economy and will encourage youths in villages to take up agriculture. If done scientifically, agriculture can be a rewarding and sustainable source of income. The youths are turning away because of a lack of rural infrastructure.

What is the government’s decision on Devasthan Inam land (gifted to temple trust for religious purposes)?

Chandrashekhar Bawankule: There have been instances of rampant exploitation of surplus temple (religious) land over the decades. To safeguard the rights of temples as well as farmers, we are considering raising funds by determining the ready-reckoner rate on unutilised surplus land. A part of the fund, as a fixed deposit, can be kept for the temple trust. It will be a source of income for them. And the unutilised land can be handed over to the rightful owner at the ready-reckoner rate. We have to evolve a consensus before we implement it. We have to fix this problem to avoid misuse of land by miscreants.