Maha Cabinet waives stamp duty on intra-group land transfers for renewable energy projects
Mumbai, Aug 11
The Maharashtra Cabinet, chaired by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, on Tuesday approved a series of decisions aimed at accelerating renewable energy development, streamlining agricultural administration, and expanding higher education and judicial infrastructure in the state.
The cabinet has approved amendments to Section 72 of the Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act, 2013, revising the interest rates applicable to delayed compensation payments.
In a bid to boost clean energy, stamp duty has been waived on internal land transfer transactions within company groups or Special Purpose Vehicles (SPVs) formed for renewable energy projects. A 25 per cent exemption on transfer fees has been granted for land acquired specifically for renewable energy projects.
The move is expected to support the state government's ambitious target of adding 16,000 MW of renewable energy capacity under the Mukhyamantri Saur Krishi Vahini Yojana (MSKVY) 2.0. The programme seeks to solarise agricultural feeder capacity across Maharashtra and provide farmers with reliable and uninterrupted daytime electricity for irrigation.
The Cabinet had recently approved the Rs 12,303 crore project titled MAGESTIC (Maharashtra: Accelerating Green Energy and Storage Technologies Integration in Connected Grid). This aims to increase the share of renewable energy in Maharashtra's connected grid mix from 17 per cent to 50 per cent by 2030.
Further, the Cabinet approved a revised organisational structure for the Agriculture Department's regional offices. This includes the creation of four major executive positions, including Director of Agriculture (Agricultural Engineering, Asset Management & AgriStack), Joint Director of Agriculture (Statistics), Director of Agriculture (Information & Technology) -- Deputation position, and Additional Director, AgriStack (Revenue) -- Deputation position.
The Cabinet also cleared a proposal allowing the Shri Nilkantheshwar Farmers Co-operative Sugar Factory in Killari (Ausa Taluka, Latur District) to raise capital expenditure and working capital loans from the National Cooperative Development Corporation (NCDC). The factory's loan proposal of Rs 18.009 crore will be forwarded to the NCDC for processing.
Moreover, the Cabinet gave approval to upgrade guidelines and regulatory frameworks governing the establishment of self-financed private skill universities to streamline operations. Degree colleges in the state are now permitted to introduce 'Social Work' as an independent faculty, launch new courses, and add extra batches.
Additionally, specialised Social Work colleges have been authorised to start new courses and additional batches on a permanent non-grant basis.
— IANS
Reader Comments
The MSKVY 2.0 target of 16,000 MW is ambitious, and this stamp duty waiver could help. But I'm a bit concerned about the land acquisition aspects. As long as farmers get fair compensation and the process is transparent, this is a positive step for renewable energy in Maharashtra. 👍
Good to see the state focusing on AgriStack and digital infrastructure for agriculture. The new director positions for IT and statistics will help modernise farming data. But we need to ensure these are not just bureaucratic additions—they should deliver real value on the ground.
As a resident of Latur, I'm happy to see the Nilkantheshwar Sugar Factory getting financial support. Co-operative sugar factories are lifelines for sugarcane farmers. The Rs 18 crore loan from NCDC should help modernise operations, but I hope the management uses these funds judiciously.
The 17% to 50% renewable energy target by 2030 is very optimistic. While this stamp duty waiver and MAGESTIC project are steps in the right direction, we need to see parallel investments in battery storage and grid modernisation. Otherwise, the green energy might not be stable enough. Let's see how this unfolds.
Allowing 'Social Work' as an independent faculty in colleges is a welcome decision. It recognises the importance of community development and gives students more career options. I also appreciate the effort to streamline skill university regulations—this could improve vocational training quality in the state. 🌱
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