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HYDERABAD: The state government will conduct joint surveys by the revenue and forest departments to resolve long-pending boundary disputes between revenue and forest lands, revenue minister Ponguleti Srinivas Reddy said on Monday. He said the surveys would use modern technology and scientific methods to permanently settle disputes and ensure that farmers and ordinary landowners do not suffer because of conflicts between the two departments.

Chairing a review meeting with officials at the Secretariat, the minister stressed the need to identify clear land boundaries and resolve disputes that have continued for decades.

Srinivas Reddy said the erstwhile Khammam, Warangal and Adilabad districts had large tracts of forest land and witnessed several boundary disputes between the revenue and forest departments. Disputes also existed between patta land, revenue land and forest land. All these issues should be covered in the joint surveys to arrive at permanent solutions, he said.

He directed officials to inspect the actual position of lands in the field and cross-check revenue records, maps and survey details before fixing boundaries. Modern technology and scientific methods should be used to ensure accuracy and prevent fresh disputes.

Srinivas Reddy cautioned officials against shifting responsibility from one department to another and directed them to resolve issues through joint action. Revenue and forest officials should constitute coordination committees at the district and mandal levels.

Issues that could be settled at the field level should be resolved locally, while those requiring higher-level decisions should be immediately referred to the state government. Srinivas Reddy said he would personally monitor the resolution of revenue-forest land boundary disputes and periodically review the progress.


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