After 100 years, Maharashtra to re-survey agril lands


* 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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