Land Management System in India
By Murari Chaturvedi
Land is the single most important ingredient for any development in the world. Unfortunately in India, land management system is in the state of gross mismanagement. Country,s extensive agricultural as well as non-agricultural land management system has collapsed. In India, we have 264 million hectares of land fit for vegetation, but of this 142 million hectares of land is cultivated and managed by private land owners. The balance 122 million hectares is uncultivated public lands, comprising 67 million hectares under the forest department and 55 million hectares under various other public authorities, which include state revenue department, panchayats and other local bodies. These publicly held lands are the most valuable source for forest products like timber, pulp, fuel wood, fodders etc., which are the life line to the rural as well as urban population. Additionally, these are the lands which are maintaining ecological balance throughout the country. But the pathetic state of affairs in land management and utter confusion due to the outdated laws and regulations are doing maximum harm to our national wealth. Even after centuries, the laws governing the various aspects of land holding and use have not changed or modified to cope up with present day needs. The Union Urban Development ministry, unveiled National Housing Policy on 8th August, 1944, envisaging a major shift in its role that of builder to facilitator. The policy was aimed at homeless and vulnerable sections of society. But in the absence of proper land management system and implementing agencies, how the government can think of providing land for this purpose, is the moot question. The outdated laws and corrupt officials are the biggest hurdle in the way of land development. The state forest department, which owns well over 67 million hectares of land, is totally incapable of managing the forest lands. In the day of SEZ and other such developments, the government has to prepare itself to the current needs of the people and industry
In most villages of Maharashtra, there are certain survey numbers for which Gut Book Plans are not available with the T.I.L.R. office. On Application made for Gut Book Plan, the T.I.LR. office issues standard certificate stating that the Gut Book Plan is torn and therefore not available. In such cases the applicant is asked to make application for survey of all hissas in that particular survey number and are forced upon to pay the survey fees even for hissas not belonging to him. This is unjustified, arbitratory and causes undue financial burden upon the applicant and gives room for corruption.
1.Why can’t the Government when brought to their notice initiate survey of such survey numbers and prepare a Gut Book Plan and charged fees for the same.
2.There is provision in the M.L.R. Code that fresh survey should be carried out every after 30 years. During British Rule this practice was strictly followed inspite of number of difficulties with limited resources. To day the technology is much advanced. Surveyors are not required to sit on horses for carrying out survey as in case of Britishers. However, with deep regret I am constrained to record that why the Government Authority is sleeping over the matters and not taking any pains in surveying and updating the records, which will enhance the Government Revenue by way of assessment collected towards land.
N.K.Dilip
Manager Land Acquisition.