E-Measurement Cuts Land Disputes by 60 Percent in Maharashtra: Revenue Minister Bawankule
Reported by Mubarak Ansari
Pune, 27th February 2026: Revenue Minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule on Friday said the Maharashtra Revenue Department is working to bring positive change in citizens’ lives by making revenue services faster, transparent and people-centric. He appealed to citizens to cooperate with the department as it implements key reforms aimed at improving governance and service delivery.
Bawankule was speaking during an open interview held after the inauguration of the MEA International Business Expo 2026, organised by the Maratha Entrepreneurs Association at the Agriculture College ground in Sinchan Nagar, Range Hills, Pune.
Union Minister of State for Civil Aviation Murlidhar Mohol, MP Shrirang Barne, former MP Ravindra Gaikwad, Pune Mayor Manjusha Nagpure, Standing Committee Chairman Shrinath Bhimale, Maratha Entrepreneurs Association President Vikram Gaikwad, former president Ankush Asabe, Arun Nimhan, association office-bearers and entrepreneurs were present on the occasion.
Bawankule said the Revenue Department plays a crucial role in safeguarding citizens’ property rights and is considered the backbone of the administration. He said around 13,000 revenue-related cases had been pending since 2012–13. To reduce hardship for citizens, powers were reclassified and cases were distributed between the Minister of State for Revenue and the department’s Principal Secretary.
He said nearly 2,000 cases out of the 6,000 pending with the Revenue Minister have already been heard, and around 1,200 orders have been passed. A plan is in place to dispose of all remaining cases, and instructions have been issued to ensure that no revenue-related case remains pending beyond three months in the future.
Under the Service Guarantee Act, 55 revenue services have been classified. A proposal to delegate all ministerial powers to district collectors is under consideration, which would allow citizens to access revenue services from home. Bawankule also announced major amendments to the Maharashtra Land Revenue Act, stating that farmers will no longer require district collector permission for non-agricultural land use or for obtaining sanad approvals.
He said the repeal of the Fragmentation Act has opened the way for nearly 60 lakh families to receive their 7/12 land records. Officials who delay work and cause inconvenience to citizens will face strict action, he warned.
On registration reforms, Bawankule said the government is considering issuing vertical property cards and fixing area-wise ready reckoner rates. A One State–One Registration system, on the lines of One District–One Registration, is also proposed, with plans to establish 60 state-of-the-art registration offices.
Addressing sand availability, he said the M-sand policy was introduced due to restrictions on natural sand supply following National Green Tribunal norms. He urged builders and contractors to adopt M-sand, adding that all powers related to M-sand have been delegated to district collectors. The royalty for M-sand has been fixed at ₹200, while natural sand royalty stands at ₹600. He added that large quantities of stone will be made available in the coming period.
Speaking on rural infrastructure, Bawankule described the Chief Minister’s Farm Access Road Scheme as a “highway for farmers”. He said the government is working to ensure 12 hours of daytime electricity supply, water availability and all-weather farm roads. Under the Chief Minister’s Solar Feeder Scheme, a project has been planned to provide daytime electricity to 45 lakh farmers.
He further said land disputes have reduced by nearly 60 percent due to e-measurement using drones and rovers, which has improved accuracy and speed. A proposal is also under consideration to issue property cards within one-and-a-half months.
On employment generation, Bawankule said the expo aims to create more entrepreneurs, generate jobs for youth and promote organised business within the Maratha community. Under the guidance of Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, the state is focusing on industrialisation, agricultural employment and job creation. He said agreements signed at Davos are expected to help generate around 15 lakh jobs.
Union Minister Murlidhar Mohol said initiatives such as Make in India, Startup India and Atmanirbhar Bharat under Prime Minister Narendra Modi have provided a strong platform for entrepreneurs. He said India has over two lakh startups and has emerged as the world’s third-largest startup ecosystem.
Mohol said Maharashtra continues to attract the highest foreign direct investment in the country, while Pune has emerged as a major education hub, cultural centre, startup capital and a key automobile and IT hub, driven largely by its entrepreneurial ecosystem.
Actor Avadhoot Gupte conducted the open interview with Revenue Minister Bawankule through his popular format ‘Khupte Tithe Gupte’.
MEA office-bearers Vikram Gaikwad, Rajesh Kurhade and Ankush Asabe also shared details about the expo, the association’s initiatives and the M-Connect platform.
