Earlier this week, the Karnataka government announced that approximately 650,000 unauthorised properties across gram panchayats in and around Bengaluru will be eligible for digital e-khata documentation under the e-Swathu initiative. The move aims to bring over 9.5 million such properties statewide into the tax net, enabling owners to complete registrations and secure bank loans. It is also expected to significantly enhance property-tax collection for local panchayats and boost transparency in real-estate records.Read more

The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has received environmental clearance from the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change for a INR 2,395 crore cable-stayed bridge connecting Versova to Madh Island. The project, which was initially envisioned in the 1967 Development Plan, is expected to reduce current commute times from 45-60 minutes to under 10 minutes. The bridge will pass over Marve Creek and mangrove areas, requiring additional approvals from the Bombay High Court. Construction is planned to start by year-end, with a three-year timeline for completion.Read more

The Gumla district administration addressed 746 land dispute and pending certificate cases during its Anchal Diwas initiative, benefiting residents, especially underprivileged communities. Launched earlier this year, the program held weekly sessions at circle offices, providing access to administrative services without traveling to district headquarters. The initiative resolved issues ranging from land ownership disputes to caste and residential certificates. With 933 cases received in the first phase, the administration successfully addressed most on the spot, reflecting its focus on improving governance and timely service delivery at the grassroots level.Read more

Village chiefs from Chandel district in Manipur have united to oppose the ongoing Indo-Myanmar border fencing, calling for construction to stop until the Kuki-Zo people receive a separate administrative setup. The Border Roads Task Force (BRTF) has begun fencing work near Moreh in Tengnoupal district as part of Project Sewak, while only 10 km of the 398 km Manipur-Myanmar border has been fenced so far. The 1,643 km India-Myanmar border spans four states and previously operated under a Free Movement Regime, which was revoked last year, now limiting movement to 43 designated points with Assam Rifles-issued border passes.Read more

The Bombay High Court has directed district collectors in six Konkan region districts to hand over 10,000 hectares of identified mangrove land to the Maharashtra forest department within two months. The order follows a contempt petition by Mumbai-based NGO Vanshakti, highlighting failure to implement a 2018 directive. The court has also set a detailed timeline for identifying, measuring, and transferring the remaining mangrove land. Previously, around 4,000 hectares had been transferred, but over 10,000 hectares remained pending, with some lands yet to be restored for mangrove cultivation.Read more

The Madras High Court has clarified that sub-registrars are legally empowered to deny registration of plots converted into house sites without prior approval from the concerned planning authority. The court's decision came in response to an appeal challenging a previous order that had directed registration despite the absence of such approval. The ruling establishes that if a land parcel has not been registered earlier as a house site, registration cannot proceed under that category unless the planning authority has explicitly approved the conversion.Read more

The Bombay High Court imposed an INR 50 lakh fine on a businessman for leasing a shop in a redeveloped building on MHADA land in Kurla to Jammu & Kashmir Bank without an occupation certificate (OC). The court emphasized that commercial tenants and landlords must ensure statutory compliance, including fire NOC and OC. Chheda was directed to pay the fine to the PM CARES Fund within two weeks. The court also ordered the enforcement of a previous order to vacate the premises and highlighted lapses in due diligence by the bank.Read more

In a recent regulatory shift, the government of Tamil Nadu eased parking space norms for large residential properties. Homes on plots measuring 3,200 sq ft or more will now require space for four cars and four two-wheelers, compared with stricter provisions under the earlier rule. While developers have welcomed the move for allowing greater usable space, planners have expressed concern about its possible effect on street parking and congestion.Read more

The Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) has obtained approval to cut 320 trees and transplant 386 for a new infrastructure project along the Vikhroli-Ghatkopar stretch. As compensation, 4,175 new trees will be planted in the area, focusing on native and pollution-resistant species. The project also aims to retain 949 existing trees and preserve 127 Pink Trumpet trees. While MMRDA highlights careful planning and scientific transplantation methods, local residents and environmental groups remain concerned about the ecological impact of cutting mature trees and whether compensatory planting can match their environmental benefits.Read more

The National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) has initiated insolvency proceedings against Bhilai Jaypee Cement, a subsidiary of Jaiprakash Associates Limited (JAL), over an outstanding operational debt of INR 45 crore owed to Sidhgiri Holdings Pvt Ltd for coal supplied between September 2021 and June 2022. The tribunal admitted the Section 9 petition, appointed an interim resolution professional, and placed the company under a moratorium. The cement maker had made partial payments, but the supplier moved NCLT after repeated defaults, reflecting ongoing financial stress within JAL and its subsidiaries.Read more