Bihar Deputy CM Unveils Proactive Land Bank Strategy and Major Hiring Initiative
In a significant announcement during the state assembly session on Friday, Deputy Chief Minister and Revenue and Land Reforms Minister Vijay Kumar Sinha outlined ambitious plans to enhance Bihar's industrial landscape. He confirmed that his department will actively support the creation of a land bank initiated by the industries department, aimed at facilitating industrial use across the state.
Boosting Industrial Growth Through Land Bank Collaboration
Vijay Kumar Sinha emphasized the improving industrial scenario in Bihar, noting that the industries department has restarted efforts to establish a comprehensive land bank. The revenue and land reforms department will play a proactive role in contributing to this initiative, ensuring streamlined processes for land acquisition and management. This move is expected to attract investments and spur economic development.
Massive Recruitment Drive to Strengthen Departmental Operations
Alongside the land bank plans, Sinha revealed that 16,584 new recruitments will be made at various levels within his department. These positions will be filled through an agency to enhance manpower and operational efficiency. The recruitment drive is part of broader efforts to modernize and scale up departmental functions.
Budget Approval Amid Opposition Walkout
Sinha made these statements while delivering the government's reply to the House debate on his department's budget for the 2025-26 fiscal year, valued at Rs 2,190.15 crore. A cut motion had been moved by RJD member Rahul Kumar, but following the opposition members' walkout, the budget was ultimately passed by voice vote.
Reviving 'Jan Kalyan Samvad' for Land Dispute Resolution
In his detailed response, Sinha highlighted the 'Jan Kalyan Samvad' program launched in December last year, which involves circle officers and complainants. This dialogue initiative will resume in March and expand to the district level. It has already proven effective in addressing key issues such as:
- Delays in rectifying names and discrepancies in land records
- Tardiness in completing land mutation processes at the circle level
- Activities of the 'land mafia' and alleged partisan police intervention in land disputes
Digital Transformation and Application Processing Milestones
The introduction of online facilities and digitization of office activities has significantly improved monitoring from top to circle levels. Sinha reported that 46 lakh applications have been submitted by landowners, with 34 lakh screened for disposal. He noted that 40 lakh of these applications involve pleas for rectifying wrongful entries of landowners' names, attributing this issue to the contracted data entry agency.
Timelines and Enhanced Efficiency Measures
To expedite case resolutions, specific timelines have been established, such as a 15-day deadline for land mutation cases. Sinha pointed to the department's improved efficiency, including the creation of a 'farmer registry' encompassing 40 lakh landowners. Additionally, the state police headquarters has directed personnel to focus solely on law and order duties, intervening in land disputes only upon request from circle officers.
Strict Penalties to Curb Land Mafia Activities
In a bid to control illegal land activities, a provision has been implemented for seven-year imprisonment if fake land documents are used for acquisition or transfer. This measure aims to deter fraudulent practices and protect landowners' rights.
