Congress unveils Telangana Bhu Bharati Bill, pledges to replace Dharani portal

In a significant political move, the Congress party unveiled a new legislative proposal: The Telangana Bhu Bharati (Record of Rights in Land) Bill, 2024, which proposes to replace the Telangana Rights in Land and Pattadar Pass Books Act, 2020. This bill aims to transform the landscape of land administration in the state by promising to replace the Dharani portal with a more efficient and transparent system. This development comes amid growing concerns over land management and transparency issues associated with the current portal.

The Bill proposes the establishment of tribunals, appellate, and revisional authorities, along with restoring the “occupants” column that was removed by the previous administration, causing widespread confusion. It introduces provisions for village-level revenue officers, and manual storage of revenue records, and empowers revenue officers at the mandal and district levels, such as Mandal Revenue Officers (MROs) and Revenue Divisional Officers (RDOs), to address grievances.

Promise Fulfilled:

Presenting the Bill, Revenue Minister Ponguleti Srinivasa Reddy stated, “Rahul Gandhi promised during the campaign to ‘throw Dharani into the Bay of Bengal.’ People believed in this promise and voted us to power. True to our word, under the leadership of Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy and our MLAs, we have retired Dharani and are introducing Bhu Bharati.”

The minister criticized the previous regime, alleging that the 2020 Act was drafted behind closed doors, creating friction within families and impacting human relations. He also noted the backlog of unresolved Sada Bainama applications and the absence of mechanisms to address these issues.

Learnings from Other States:

Srinivasa Reddy revealed that the government consulted legislation from 18 states and engaged with experts 22 times before finalizing the Bill. The draft was placed in the public domain for 40 days to gather public feedback, and recommendations from various stakeholders, including BRS MLA and former minister T. Harish Rao, were incorporated.

The minister emphasized that the government is open to further amendments to ensure the Bill aligns with public interests, stating, “We have no intention of imposing a law against the will of the people.”

Background: The Dharani Portal

The Telangana state government launched the Dharani portal as an integrated land records management system. It was designed to streamline land registration processes, reduce fraud, and provide easy access to land records. However, despite its ambitious goals, the portal has faced criticism over several issues:

1. Technical Glitches: Users frequently reported technical difficulties and downtime, which hindered the portal's effectiveness.
2. Transparency Concerns: There have been allegations of data manipulation and lack of transparency in land transactions.
3. Accessibility Issues: Many rural and less tech-savvy landowners found the portal challenging to use, leading to accessibility concerns.

These challenges have fueled demands for a more reliable and user-friendly system.

The Telangana Bhu Bharati Bill: Key Features

The Telangana Bhu Bharati Bill seeks to address the shortcomings of the Dharani portal by introducing a new framework for land management. Here are some of the key features proposed in the bill:

1. Enhanced User Interface: The new system promises an upgraded and user-friendly interface, making it accessible to all citizens, regardless of their technical proficiency.
2. Increased Transparency: The bill includes provisions for enhanced data security and transparency in land transactions to prevent manipulation and fraud.
3. Offline Support: Recognizing the digital divide, the bill proposes mechanisms for offline support through local land offices, ensuring inclusivity for all landowners.
4. Efficient Grievance Redressal: A robust grievance redressal mechanism is proposed to handle disputes and technical issues promptly, ensuring user satisfaction and trust.
5. Training and Awareness Programs: To facilitate smooth adaptation, the bill includes initiatives to train landowners and officials on using the new system effectively.
6. Revamped Pahani Records: The government has reinstated the Pahani record format, previously reduced to minimal details. The updated Pahani now includes 11 critical columns, providing comprehensive information about the land, including ownership details, survey numbers, and whether the land is private or government-owned.

STATED OBJECTIVES OF BHU BHARATI:

1. To set up revenue tribunals, and appellate authorities.
2. To provide a redressal mechanism for rectification of entries in the Record of Rights and create an appeal mechanism.
3. To provide provision for adjudication of land entered in part B.
4. To provide provision for the preparation of a Record of Rights after resurvey and update the existing Record of Rights by undertaking a special program.
5. To streamline the process of mutation in the Record of Rights.
6. To create a Record of Rights for Abadi and non-agricultural lands.
7. To create a Bhudhar(unique identification number) for all land parcels to issue Bhudhar cards.
8. To provide provision for the regularisation of Sada Bainamas.
9. To create a user-friendly and hassle-free online portal for maintaining a Record of Rights.
10. To protect land belonging to the government.
11. Enjoyment survey the to find a permanent solution.
12. Appellate Authority to lodge complaints against any registrations and mutations.
13. State to serve notices to family members and obtain opinions in the case of successions in the light of growing complaints.
14. Bhu Bharati has provisions to address the pending 9.24lakh Sada Bainama applications filled till November 10, 2020.
15. The new system will give a unique number Bhudhar akin to Adhar.
16. Revenue officer at village level.
17. At every level, there are provisions to periodically store manual land records to guarantee their security and tamper-proofness.

Key Stakeholders and Beneficiaries

The Bhu Bharati Bill will be advantageous to numerous individuals. Farmers, landowners, government employees, and others will experience enhancements. The bill clarifies land records and simplifies the process of transferring land ownership. This will help prevent delays and improve planning and decision-making for the state's development.

Farmers: Quicker and more dependable access to land records, along with a streamlined mutation process for land dealings

Landowners: Enhanced security of land ownership, reduced risk of disputes, easier management of property transactions.

Government Officials: Improved efficiency in land administration, better coordination between agencies, and more accurate data for policymaking.

General Public: Enhanced access to land records and mutation services, with greater transparency in land matters.

The Bhu Bharati Bill can make big changes in Telangana’s land system. It will help many people and help the state grow.

An Outlook for the Future

The launch of Bhu Bharati represents a major advancement in the government's land management reform agenda. By utilizing technology, the platform seeks to address persistent issues such as ownership disputes and challenges related to data accessibility.

Additionally, the government has introduced an application tracking system, allowing users to monitor the status of their requests and ensuring transparency. With these initiatives, Bhu Bharati is set to establish a new benchmark in agricultural land governance.

Empowering Farmers and Landowners.

Strengthening the Future of Farmers and Landowners:

Land is an essential resource for millions of farmers in Telangana, and the government has made it a priority to implement initiatives that protect their rights and support their livelihoods. Bhu Bharati offers a comprehensive framework that not only ensures the protection of ownership rights but also streamlines access to vital land information.

By emphasizing transparency and efficiency, Bhu Bharati enables landowners to manage their properties more effectively, cutting down the time and costs typically involved in traditional land transactions.

Final Thoughts :

The Telangana Bhu Bharati Bill represents a significant advancement in land reform. Its goal is to transform the way land records are managed. With this modification, land management will become more equitable, effective, and transparent.

Making land records digital is the main goal of this measure. It will foster trust and benefit the populace. Modern land records and dispute resolution procedures would make it simpler for Telangana residents to manage their land.

Telangana's economy and agriculture could benefit from the Bhu Bharati Bill. It will improve land management, which will increase investment and improve agriculture. Telangana will become a more prosperous state as a result of this.

FAQs:

What is the Telangana Bhu Bharati Bill?

The Telangana Bhu Bharati Bill is a new legislation aimed at modernizing land management in the state. It focuses on digitizing land records, simplifying property transactions, and ensuring greater transparency in land administration.

What are the core objectives of the Telangana Bhu Bharati Bill?

The primary objectives of the bill are to establish a unified database of land records, streamline land ownership processes, and conduct a comprehensive land survey. It leverages advanced technology to accurately define and mark land boundaries.

Who are the key stakeholders and beneficiaries of the Telangana Bhu Bharati Bill?

The bill primarily benefits farmers, landowners, and government officials by resolving land disputes, simplifying property transactions, and improving overall land management.

How will the Telangana Bhu Bharati Bill transform the land administration system?

The bill introduces significant changes to land administration in Telangana, including detailed land surveys, the use of advanced technology for boundary identification, and improved support for farmers. These measures will enhance transparency, reduce disputes, and improve efficiency in land management.

What is the timeline for implementing the Telangana Bhu Bharati Bill?

The implementation plan includes digitizing land records, automating processes for land transactions, verifying non-agricultural land, and conducting a large-scale land survey to update records comprehensively.

“The Bhu Bharati Bill represents a transformative vision for Telangana’s land management system, leveraging technology and progressive policies to benefit farmers and landowners alike.”