Bawankule warns microfinance firms against harassing farmers, tells collectors to act

State Revenue Minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule, speaking in Nagpur, issued a stern warning to microfinance companies. According to him, collectors can also take action against microfinance companies. Whether it is an illegal moneylender, a microfinance company or any other bank, no one should hound farmers for money, he said.

Bawankule said he would once again issue instructions to collectors. He said the high-handedness of banks, microfinance firms and finance-linked people would not be tolerated in the state under any circumstances.

On recovery of loans from farmers, he said collectors have been instructed to register cases and act against banks. If this is happening anywhere, he would look into it. Collectors have also already been instructed to act against illegal moneylending. Bawankule said that if loans were recovered even after this, the government would take action.

Asked about the resentment in the Nagpur region, Bawankule thanked Anil Sole. He said Sole had taken a very important decision in the interest of the party and the organisation. Bawankule said the Chief Minister had discussed the matter the previous day. The suggestions given by Anil Sole and Girish Vyas, and the issues they wished to raise, had been heard. In Bawankule's words, he felt the suggestions of the two were in the interest of the party and the party organisation.

On the Nagpur seat, Bawankule said his stand was to take the old party workers along. He claimed they would win the election by a hundred per cent and that it would be Sudhakar Kohle's victory. According to him, the seat has been with the BJP for 57 years and he was confident it would remain with the BJP and the Mahayuti after this win as well. He also expressed confidence that Sudhakar Kohle would win a hundred per cent.

Bawankule also raised the issue of unauthorised buildings coming up without RERA registration. He said the Maharashtra legislature had received many complaints that unauthorised buildings were being put up in the state without RERA registration. These include Panvel, Thane, Pimpri-Chinchwad, Haveli, Pune and the suburban areas of Nagpur, where unauthorised buildings were built and unauthorised transfers took place. He said a large number of agents had entered these areas. The government has therefore taken a tough step, and from now on there will be no registration without measurement, he said.

The minister said that any unauthorised flat or building that has not been permitted, has not followed the rules under the development plan or has no sanction will not be registered. Such flats cannot be sold and will first have to be regularised. A building that can never be made legal will have to be demolished. Buildings whose shortcomings can be corrected can be regularised. According to Bawankule, unauthorised buildings will not be allowed to be built in future, and all rules will have to be followed along with RERA registration.