Telangana land survey: Disputes in 13 per cent of 69 lakh acres surveyed

Hyderabad: Nearly 87 per cent of 69 lakh acres surveyed as part of comprehensive land survey was found to be clear, without any disputes.

The survey has covered 6,242 villages since September 15 and completed in 3,500 villages. The deadline to cover all 10,806 revenue villages covering 2.76 crore acres is December 31.

Jagtial topped the list with 99 per cent of the land with clear titles followed by Suryapet, Sangareddy, Nalgonda and Medchal districts at 96 per cent.

The last comprehensive land survey was conducted in the Nizam rule during 1932-34. In 1954, Khasra Pahani was finalised in Hyderabad, and khata numbers were given to farmers based on the their land holding.

Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar had announced a new scheme early this year to extend financial assistance of Rs 8,000 per acre per year for farmers from 2018. The survey was ordered after it was found that neither the revenue nor the agriculture department had records to show who owned how much land.

Though they were converted for commercial and realty purposes, or acquired for projects, the status of agricultural lands was not changed in the records. This resulted in the landowners continuing to get benefits meant for farmers including crop loans.

To ensure the crop investment support scheme reached only genuine farmers, Mr Rao ordered the survey.