India, Dec. 26 -- In a move that could provide relief to over 3,000 housing societies within the limits of Greater Mumbai, the Maharashtra government has decided to lower the rent levied on government lands where the lease contract has not expired.

The State leases out land across Mumbai city and its suburbs though various agencies such as the district collectorates to private parties and cooperative housing societies for periods ranging from 30 years to 999 years. In government parlance, these lands are called Occupancy Class II and were allotted for specific purposes to groups such as freedom fighters, ex-servicemen, artists, writers, journalists and so on. There are restrictions on the free sale or transfer of such plots and approval ...