AP launches resurvey of lands to prevent litigations

Visakhapatnam: IN a first of its kind in India, Andhra Pradesh has launched a massive exercise to resurvey land records across the State by setting June, 2023 as the deadline to complete it in a bid to avoid duplication of registrations, land-grabbing and mushrooming number of civil disputes.

Already, the government has completed resurvey in 29,563 acres in 51 villages belonging to 12,776 land-owners. The government has also announced its plans to allow registration of documents at village secretariats across the State in phases.

For completing the gigantic exercise before the deadline, high-tech methods are being adopted. It will cost an estimated amount of Rs1,000 crore. As many as 4,500 survey teams will be deployed by opening 70 crore base stations at micro level. Two thousand rovers will be engaged. The government wants to allot unique identification numbers to the lands with QR code to prevent fraudulent ways being adopted by fraudsters. Geo-tagging will also be done. Land records will be digitised and put on public domain after calling for objections if any.

Speaking at the inauguration process in 37 villages of Guntur district recently, Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy said in the first phase, resurvey was completed in 51 villages. The process will be completed in 11,501 villages by the year-end.

Describing the project as a "revolutionary step," he said the scheme named the YSR Jagananna Saswata Bhoo Hakku and Bhoo Raksha will become a role model as resurvey of lands has been taken up after 100 years. He said the government is committed to provide clear title deeds to the rightful owners after proper and scientific resurvey.

The reforms have to be taken up as 90 per cent of the disputes are civil litigations and there are complaints of tampering with land records. It is also alleged that the boundaries lacked are not well- marked. "These problems can be solved if the land markings are done scientifically and an identification number is given to all landholders," Reddy pointed out.

During the first phase, resurvey was held in 51 villages covering 29,563 acres in which 3,304 objections were resolved. The Chief Minister dedicated these resurveyed records to the people. The remaining lands will be resurveyed by June, 2023 in phases and the registration will be carried in the respective village secretariats with a unique identity number. Mandal Mobile Magistrate teams will clear the objections and once the resurvey is completed the State will take forward the Permanent Land Right Certificate issuing programme.

The Chief Minister said "this will put an end to the middlemen and enable anyone to view data online besides ensuring speedy disposal of F line 15 days and sub-division applications (30 days). After the resurvey is completed, registrations will be done at village secretariat level."