To develop housing societies or residential complexes, it is necessary to convert agricultural land into non-agricultural land. Agricultural land cannot be used for constructing houses, even if it is owned by the individual. Different states have different procedures for converting "land use change." The general process for changing land use is as follows:
The application must be submitted to the competent authority, such as the Municipal Commissioner for urban areas, the Chief Officer for Municipal Councils, or the District Collector for rural areas, or a designated Sub-Divisional Officer (SDO) or Tehsildar, along with the relevant documents and details of the land.
1) 7/12 extract
2)Measurement map
3)NOC obtained from officials of land acquisition, rehabilitation, MSEB, WRD, and Health Department
4)Layout prepared by a registered engineer or architect as per UDC PR regulations
After receiving the application, the competent authority will verify the details with the Tehsil office to confirm ownership, land area, encumbrances, etc. Verification is also conducted by the land acquisition department and other authorities. The online process is carried out in the same manner.
For rural areas, the drawing map is sent to the Assistant Director of the District Town Planning Department for verification. Based on their provisions and regional development plans, a recommendation for the approval of the drawing is made. In urban areas, the relevant municipal corporation or council has its own town planning department, where officials from the town planning department are assigned. These officials verify such maps, and the Chief Officer or Commissioner grants approval. After the land is demarcated according to the approved drawing, a government land measurement is conducted for each plot. Subsequently, a recommendation for final drawing approval is made.
If all the above steps are followed, the relevant District Collector, Sub-Divisional Officer, or Tehsildar will issue the final non-agricultural order for rural areas. For urban areas, the Tehsildar issues a confirmation certificate, and the relevant Commissioner or Chief Officer grants the final development permission. This final development permission is the non-agricultural order.
Land that is barren or unproductive, or where settlement exists, needs to be converted to non-agricultural (N/A) plots. Whether in urban or rural areas, for any project, it is essential to have N/A plots for buying and selling, and obtaining bank loans also relies heavily on N/A designation. When planning to develop property or housing in a location, converting to N/A plots is crucial. Permissions for such projects are granted only on N/A plots. Therefore, it is necessary to convert unproductive land into non-agricultural land for the development of such areas.
Whether you want to build a bungalow or a house, you can use a portion of unproductive land for construction, but it is essential to convert that land to an N/A plot. Similarly, for shops, industrial workshops, or offices, obtaining N/A plot designation is also necessary.
If you want to purchase land from private owners, it is essential to ensure basic requirements such as access to roads, water supply, electricity supply, and other amenities. To secure these facilities, it is necessary for the land to be designated as N/A.
Some people need to convert land to N/A for purposes like relaxation, farmhouses, or tourism. According to development regulations, buying and selling land with an area of less than 10 guntas is not permitted.