Bhu Bharati Gets Great Response From People
The newly-introduced Bhu Bharati Act received an overwhelming response during the launch of its pilot project in two mandals on Thursday
Hyderabad:The newly-introduced Bhu Bharati Act received an overwhelming response during the launch of its pilot project in two mandals on Thursday. The innovative revenue sadassu, a key part of the Act, brought the revenue machinery from district collectors to tahsildars directly to the villages to resolve long-pending land-related grievances on the spot.
Launched in Maddur mandal, Narayanpet district, and Parigi mandal, Vikarabad district, by revenue minister Ponguleti Srinivas Reddy on Thursday, the pilot project was met with enthusiasm by locals who had previously faced bureaucratic hurdles under the Dharani system. Villagers expressed relief that they no longer had to navigate courts and district offices for minor land record corrections, issues that often resulted in financial and emotional strain.
A key figure at the launch was M. Suneel Kumar, a land laws expert who was instrumental in drafting the Bhu Bharati Act. His concise but powerful presentation explained the Bhu Bharati’s benefits and highlighted the shortcomings of the previous Dharani portal, introduced during the BRS regime.
Suneel Kumar said that, unlike Dharani, the Bhu Bharati portal eliminated the need for citizens to visit Mee Seva centres or pay hefty application fees. “In Dharani, there were 33 different modules, and people had to pay `1,000 for each application under each module,” he said. “Bhu Bharati provides these services free of cost.”
The Bhu Bharati system operates through revenue sadassus, where officials visit villages to address grievances, ensuring easier and faster resolution. Suneel Kumar noted that 9.24 lakh applications for ‘sada bainama’ pattas (agreements on white paper) were left unresolved during the BRS regime due to lack of provision in the Dharani Act.
“The Bhu Bharati Act addresses this gap and enables immediate processing of these long-pending applications,” he added.
Suneel Kumar urged farmers and landowners to familiarise themselves with Sections 5, 7, and 8 of the Bhu Bharati Act. These sections allow for timely corrections in revenue records, such as name, land extent, registration, and mutations — with strict timelines for officials. “If officials fail to act within 30 days, the application is automatically approved on the 31st day. The CCLA dashboard will flag such cases, holding officers accountable.”
Highlighting another major improvement, Suneel Kumar said inheritance-based land registrations will now require official inquiry to avoid disputes, something Dharani lacked.
Makthal MLA Vakiti Srihari shared his personal struggle, recounting how a minor spelling error in his name on the Dharani portal had him shuttling between the MRO, RDO, and collector offices for three years without resolution. “I felt humiliated. Now, I am relieved Bhu Bharati will finally help correct this,” he said.
K. Madhusudhan, a retired Army personnel from Kajipur village, echoed similar sentiments. Despite possessing three acres, he was denied a pattadar passbook due to limitations in the Dharani system. “Officials kept shifting responsibility. Finally, with Bhu Bharati, there's hope,” he said.
