* Nagpur,
Amravati and four other districts selected in the first phase of the
massive first-of-its-kind survey in Maharashtra after Independence
By Kartik Lokhande
Many wonder how old are the land records in
Maharashtra because there are many litigations due to presumptive nature
of these records. The answer is: 100 years old. Reason? Agricultural
lands in Maharashtra were last surveyed during the British Rule.
Considering the problems that came to fore in this long span of time,
Maharashtra Government has decided to conduct re-survey agricultural
lands in the State.
The re-survey of lands was conducted on pilot basis in 12 villages of
Mulshi tehsil in Pune district. After its success, Maharashtra
Government has decided to take up the re-survey task in a phased manner.
In the first phase, agricultural lands will be re-surveyed in six
districts including Nagpur and Amravati in Vidarbha region, and Pune,
Nashik, Aurangabad, and Raigad from other parts of the State. A decision
to this effect was taken in the State Cabinet meeting held in Mumbai on
Thursday. The Cabinet gave nod to re-survey of agricultural lands under
the National Land Records Modernisation Programme (NLRMP).
The survey of lands in Maharashtra was conducted some time around 1920.
Since then, there have been deaths of original owners, leading to
transfers in the names of heirs. In most cases, lands changed hands.
There have been disputes arising out of allegedly wrong transfers, lack
of proper demarcation of land, difference between land boundary on
ground and that in map, disputed mutations on record of rights
(popularly known as 7/12 record), etc. “Such problems have led to
litigations and this has affected development process,” said an official
of Revenue Department. The re-survey will update the land records and
it will be known how much of agricultural land is in industrial,
commercial, or any other non-agricultural use.
As part of the massive exercise, State Government will take up
digitalisation of maps, frame guidelines, and effect necessary changes
in relevant laws. The task of establishing ‘ground control point’ of
land measurement will be done through private agency. Soon, an office
will be set up to inspect and certify the work done by private agency.
Central Government has fixed a rate of Rs 15,500 per square kilometres
for land measurement with the help of satellite imagery, and Earth
Observation Satellite (EOS)/Differential Global Positioning System
(DGPS). Centre and State will share equal financial burden of re-survey.
Once the task is completed for a tehsil, a fees of Rs 300 per acre will
be levied on the land users.
The project has been named ‘eResurvey’. As per Maharashtra Government’s
Information Technology Department portal, amendments in Maharashtra Land
Revenue Code of 1966 and procedure required are to be laid down for
re-survey. A committee headed by Settlement Commissioner and Director of
Land Records (Maharashtra) has been constituted to suggest amendments
and procedure for re-survey. On recommendation of this committee,
re-survey manual will be prepared and after approval by Government of
Maharashtra, re-survey will be initiated in the entire State.
Recently, as a step towards updating and maintaining land records
accurately, a committee headed by Nagpur Divisional Commissioner
submitted a report to the State Government. It is learnt that the
committee has recommended reorganisation of Talathi Sazas in the State.
(28-08-14)
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