India, Nov. 23 -- Facing a mounting financial strain, the Maharashtra government has directed all its departments to remove or regularise encroachments on land owned by them across cities and to lease such plots to generate additional revenue. The decision was taken following chief minister Devendra Fadnavis's approval.

The directive comes against the backdrop of a growing financial crunch triggered partly by the Mukhyamantri Majhi Ladki Bahin Yojana, a welfare scheme that pays Rs.1,500 a month to underprivileged women across the state.

"For removal or regularisation of encroachments on government land, [a] policy has already been issued by the revenue and forest department in the past. If any department does not have its own policy, th...