Overview

• Revenue Minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule said the state will introduce legislation allowing tribal farmers to lease land for agriculture or mineral excavation.
• Lease agreements would include participation by the district collector, with approvals handled at the collectorate rather than requiring visits to Mantralaya in Mumbai.
• The government proposed a minimum rent of Rs 50,000 per acre a year, or Rs 1,25,000 per hectare, with parties free to agree on a higher rate.
• Farmers could sign MoUs with private companies for mineral extraction and receive payments per tonne or per brass, with exact benefit formulas yet to be set.
• The policy remains in the drafting stage, officials say it aims to ensure steady income without loss of ownership, and the minister indicated it would apply to barren land as the Congress warns of potential exploitation.