The State government enacted the Telangana Bhu Bharati (Record of Rights in Land) Act, 2024 relieving people adversely affected by the Dharani portal, but it is yet to take up the re-survey of lands across the State to avoid scope for disputes by issuing permanent Bhudaar cards to rightful owners of the land.

The Bhu Bharati Act prescribes a comprehensive survey for ascertaining the land ownership pattern once the Act comes into force. “As soon as may be after the commencement of this Act in any area, there shall be prepared and brought up-to-date, from time to time, by the Recording Authority in such manner and thereafter maintained in such form, as may be prescribed, a Record of Rights in all lands in every village in that area,” the Bhu Bharati Act says.

The Act mandates that whenever a re-survey/survey is conducted in a village under the Telangana Survey and Boundaries Act, 1923 or Telangana Land Revenue Act, 1317 Fasli or any other applicable laws, the Record of Rights in all lands in villages should be updated accordingly. The BRS government initiated the survey of lands but the process has been stopped owing to problems associated with land-related issues.

Survey of land and agricultural properties will significantly enhance the value of the properties as they will get a unique identity in the form of permanent Bhudaar (property) cards. Conduct of the digital survey, according to land laws expert M. Sunil Kumar, will require around ₹568 crore and the State could seek the Central government’s assistance in taking up the exercise. “The Centre had already released ₹83 crore for land survey related activities in the past, but the State is yet to submit utilisation certificates for the funds released,” he said.

The SVAMITVA (survey of villages abadi and mapping with improvised technology in village areas) along with the Digital India Land Record Modernisation Programme of the Centre will come handy in this direction with the Centre extending 80% and 100% funding respectively for the implementation of the programmes. The issue assumes significance as some States have initiated the survey process in different forms. Karnataka, for instance, has started incremental survey, a method mandating survey and updation of land records after a transaction takes place. Gujarat too conducted land survey entrusting the responsibility to private agencies under the supervision of the elected representatives in the areas concerned. Neighbouring Andhra Pradesh too started re-survey of lands few years ago, but the exercise has come to a halt because of some problems that arose in the process.

“Unless digital survey is conducted and lands are geo-tagged, disputes in one form or the other will continue. There has to be a strong political will and an effective work team for the successful conduct of the survey,” Mr. Sunil Kumar told The Hindu.