Telangana Government to Resolve Over Nine Lakh Pending Sadabainama Land Applications
In a significant move to address long-standing land disputes, Telangana Revenue Minister Ponguleti Srinivas Reddy has announced that the state government will resolve all Sadabainama applications that have been pending since 2020. The minister made this declaration on Tuesday while responding to a question from MLC Nellikanti Satyam in the legislative council.
Historical Context and Legislative Hurdles
The minister explained that the previous BRS government had accepted applications related to Sadabainamas, which are documents used for land transactions. However, the 2020 Record of Rights (ROR) Act failed to provide a clear resolution path for these cases, leaving many applicants in limbo. This issue was later addressed through the Bhu Bharati Act, but initial requirements for affidavits from both buyers and sellers created practical problems at the field level.
To streamline the process, the government issued GO 76, mandating that only the buyer needs to submit an affidavit. This adjustment is expected to expedite the resolution of over nine lakh pending applications across the state, bringing relief to countless landowners and buyers.
Introduction of Bhu Aadhaar for Land Parcels
In a pioneering initiative, the minister revealed that a pilot resurvey was conducted in five villages out of 413 that lacked proper maps. During this pilot, each survey number was assigned a unique Bhu Aadhaar, similar to the Aadhaar number for individuals. This digital identification system aims to provide a permanent solution to land-related issues by ensuring accurate and tamper-proof records.
The government plans to scale up this project by conducting land surveys in 70 villages across each of the 32 districts in Telangana, excluding Hyderabad. These surveys will be carried out in phases, with the Bhu Aadhaar system being implemented statewide to modernize land administration and reduce disputes.
Crackdown on Dharani Portal Fraud and Portal Overhaul
Minister Reddy also addressed a major scandal involving the Dharani portal, where individuals colluded with MeeSeva operators to misappropriate government funds amounting to 3.99 crore rupees. A high-level committee has been ordered to investigate the fraud, and the minister assured that the misappropriated funds would be recovered from the culprits. He emphasized that no official involved, regardless of their position, would be spared in this crackdown.
Responding to another question from MLC Tata Madhusudhan, the minister criticized the previous administration for introducing the Dharani portal at midnight against public opinion, which led to new land issues. He highlighted that while the Dharani portal had 40-41 modules, the new Bhu Bharati portal has been streamlined to just six modules for greater efficiency.
Gradual improvements are being made to the system, with the full launch of the Bhu Bharati portal expected by the end of April. This overhaul is part of the government's broader efforts to enhance transparency and accountability in land management, ensuring that such frauds are prevented in the future.
