Mumbai, June 24 (PTI): Underlining that providing housing to the police in adequate number is its top priority, the Maharashtra government decided to take stock of chunks of land owned by the police department which can be used for construction of houses as well as offices for the department.

The home department has asked police commissioners to take stock of all chunks of land owned by the police department with the help of district magistrates.

"The land pieces should be immediately identified and mapped. Land owned by the (police) department should be categorised into those which have proper entries in respective land records, in-process entries in respective land records that are yet to be completed, fully or partially encroached and necessary entries in the record of rights that are yet to be done," a home department official said.

The police have been asked to complete this exercise in a time-bound manner before July 15 and submit the report jointly signed by the commissioner of police concerned and district magistrate.

District magistrates and the police commissioners have also been instructed to complete the process of making necessary entries in the respective record of rights wherever encroachments have taken place.

Home department, in its communication to the police (department), said that in a presentation made to Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis by state police housing welfare corporation, it was brought to the notice of the CM, who holds the home portfolio, that there are many pieces of land owned by the police department which are scattered all over the state and run the risk of encroachment by anti-social groups.