November 15, 2025: The Agri-Koli Youth Foundation (AKYF), during the second edition of its Jan Samvad series, called for urgent and decisive intervention from the Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation (NMMC) to resolve the long-standing housing and land regularisation issues faced by original residents. The organisation reiterated that meaningful progress will only occur when the municipal body exercises its full authority rather than leaving the burden solely on CIDCO.
At the session, AKYF underscored the roots of the crisis, tracing it back to the large-scale land acquisition undertaken during Navi Mumbai’s formation. “This problem has been hanging for 40 years,” AKYF said, pointing to the large-scale land acquisition carried out by CIDCO without provisions for gaothan (village) expansion. “CIDCO acquired land for urbanisation without creating space for the original settlements. That is where the crisis began.”
The foundation stressed that thousands of families, despite never handing over physical possession of their land, were declared encroachers after 7/12 entries were transferred to CIDCO’s name. “People built houses on land still in their possession, yet they were branded encroachers. Their homes were deemed illegal,” the organisation noted.
AKYF asserted that the issue is now at a “technically solvable stage,” provided authorities follow a clear sequence of action. “Our stand has always been clear — regularise the land first, then the construction. Protect those who cannot be regularised, and give permissions or alternatives for new construction or redevelopment,” AKYF added.
Reflecting on administrative progress, the foundation pointed out that the struggle has led to tangible policy evolution. “A one-line GR came in 2017, and today we have detailed four-page GRs issued on February 25, 2022, and September 23, 2024. This is a major achievement,” the team said.
However, AKYF emphasised that CIDCO’s role is limited. “CIDCO can only regularise the land. Regulation of houses, protection of structures, and redevelopment permissions — all these fall under the Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation,” the group clarified, urging voters and future civic representatives to prioritise these issues.
The organisation’s ongoing awareness campaign aims to inform affected residents and strengthen public accountability. “Our campaign is to ensure Navi Mumbai’s original residents and taxpayers know the truth and demand accountability,” AKYF stated.
Source: The Free Press Journal
