Ponguleti vows Bhu Bharati guidelines by April

Hyderabad: Revenue minister Ponguleti Srinivas Reddy said that the state government is currently formulating comprehensive operational guidelines for the effective implementation of the Bhu Bharati Act and the Bhu Bharati portal. The new Bhu Bharati portal is slated to replace the existing Dharani portal and begin its operations in April, marking the start of the new financial year 2025-26.

Srinivas Reddy participated in the first day of a two-day workshop organised at MCRHRDI here on Tuesday, where he addressed a gathering of collectors, land law experts and senior officials to discuss the formulation of operational guidelines under the Bhu Bharati Act. The workshop aims to streamline the land administration process in the state and bring much-needed reforms.

Srinivas Reddy criticised the previous BRS government's handling of the Revenue Records (RoR) Act 2020 and the Dharani portal, claiming that both initiatives were introduced without adequate procedures in place.

“The consequences of implementing the RoR Act and the Dharani portal during the BRS regime have been detrimental. The previous administration boasted about the Dharani portal, but it is riddled with loopholes, and its flaws are still visible today,” he said.

The minister highlighted the democratic approach taken by the Congress government in bringing the Bhu Bharati Act into existence. "We introduced the Bhu Bharati Act 2024 after a thorough process of placing a draft bill in the Assembly, seeking advice and suggestions from intellectuals, political representatives, and stakeholders. This approach has made the Act a model for the country," he added.

Srinivas Reddy said that the new law, conceived with inputs from Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy, aims to provide prompt and comprehensive revenue services to the people of Telangana, reflecting their needs and aspirations. He also urged officials to adopt the same dedication and rigour in formulating operational procedures, similar to the efforts invested in the creation of the Bhu Bharati Act.

The minister stressed the importance of not making mistakes while developing the operational procedures, stating that these should offer a permanent solution to land disputes and ensure that farmers' issues are addressed comprehensively.

"The failures of the 2020 RoR Act and the Dharani portal left lakhs of farmers struggling, and even after three years, the then BRS government failed to formulate the necessary rules," Srinivas Reddy said.

He stated that the Bhu Bharati rules would be prepared meticulously, incorporating feedback from officials, intellectuals, and experts. The aim is to address existing land-related issues without creating new ones while ensuring farmers benefit and officials have clear guidelines to follow.

The new Bhu Bharati Act, Srinivas Reddy stated, will introduce significant reforms to land administration in Telangana, with key objectives including the protection of land rights, increased transparency in land transactions, and better accessibility of revenue services for the public. The law will also serve as a long-term solution to the land problems that have persisted for generations in the state.

Land laws expert M. Sunil Kumar, who played a key role in drafting the Bhu Bharati Act, also expressed confidence in the legislation. "The previous RoR Act and Dharani portal, introduced by the BRS government in 2020, were flawed. It was found that 18 lakh acres of land were not uploaded on the Dharani portal. The Bhu Bharati Act will provide a solution for nearly 25 lakh people in Telangana who have suffered due to errors in land records for the past five years," Sunil explained.

Sunil Kumar further highlighted that the new law would expedite the resolution of lakhs of pending Sada Bainama applications, which have remained unresolved for five years due to issues in the previous RoR Act.

He said that the Bhu Bharati Act will not only guarantee land ownership rights but also bring dignity, self-respect, and financial independence to the lives of farmers.

The workshop saw the participation of key officials, including revenue principal secretary Naveen Mittal, the collectors of Rangareddy, Medchal-Malkajgiri, Vikarabad, and Nagarkurnool districts, revenue divisional officers, tahsildars, and retired revenue officers.