Resurvey of lands is a must in State, say officials

Senior revenue officials have urged the State government to order a resurvey of lands, the records of which have not been updated in the last 60 years.

They said the revenue records were missing in many places, with several changes in the policies and administrative set up from 1984 onwards. The revenue officials have been conducting series of meetings to identify revenue-related grievances in Vizinagaram and Srikakulam districts.

The first-ever workshop, recently organised by the Vizianagaram Revenue Division, discussed the crucial issues and necessary steps for rectification of lapses.

Vizinagaram Revenue Divisional Officer S. Srinivas Murthy said a majority of the people were approaching the revenue department with land disputes. Bhogapuram Tehsildhar Laxma Reddy, who had conducted a study on the issue, said the revenue department was not the competent authority to settle land disputes, since the disputes come under the jurisdiction of the civil courts.

According to Mr. Srinivas Murthy and Mr. Laxma Reddy, the revenue department was very strong with proper records till the existence of Taluk system. However, many records were not found after the introduction of mandal revenue system in 1984, although it was aimed at simplifying the administration and providing quick service to the people. Updating of records was stopped from 1954 itself. People can redressal of their grievances only when records are updated every 25 years. It is time a resurvey was ordered, they added.

Vizianagaram has been facing a peculiar problem with the average extent of land confined to 30 cents for each farmer. It is said to be the root cause for boundary disputes at every stage.

With the lack of office and infrastructure, village revenue officers were not looking at the problems of the people seriously.

Tax abolition

“The abolition of the tax was aimed to benefit farmers. But it is the root cause for missing of records. The revenue department cannot say anything with authentication about the crop pattern and other issues without any records,” said another official.