Gandhinagar, Tuesday: Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi today announced new policy for increased land holding for entire Kutch district, particularly for the farmers, with a view to simplify the age-old unscientific method based on estimates now in force and to remove inconsistencies.
Greeting the people of Kutch as a gift on the eve of Kutchi New Year Asadhi Bij, Mr. Modi declared the decision after consultation with Revenue Minister Revenue Minister Anandiben Patel. He wished the people of Kutch district, developing at the fastest growing rate in India, would flourish in the agriculture sector too, besides tourism and industrial. The state government is committed to provide multifarious facilities for the development of Kutch, he said.
It has been necessitated after the process of redrawing the land holding had begun. It is expected to solve thousands of case of settlement of disputes or to convert agricultural land into non-agricultural purposes, often resulting into misinterpretation of the clauses resulting in accumulation of disputed cases with the revenue department. The salient features of the new policy are as follows:
- The land holding would be settled after recovering 20 per cent of the increased area as premium, keeping intact prevailing conditions concerning thoroughfare roads, bund, footpaths, water channels and other public places. - The jantri rates of all original land holdings in all rural areas, including nagarpalikas, will be decided after deducting 20 per cent of the increased area at the prevailing rates. In case of more than 20 per cent, it would be settled after recovering double jantri rates of additional land. - Several cases of discrepancies that had cropped up earlier, causing widespread dissent among land holders, are being settled. - The entire process is being decentralized empowering the Collector to settle 40 per cent of total area with financial limit of Rs.15-lakh (four acres of land), with a view to solve problems of small farmers and land holders. - In case the area is more than the aforesaid area or value, the power to settle the issue will rest with the government. - The earlier orders settled as per the old extra land would not be entitled for review, but could be considered in case of wrong interpretation due to huge discrepancy. - In case there is survey number in old records but left out in new records, such cases could be settled as per the new policy, with a view to benefit the land holders.
Explaining the Chief Minister’s praiseworthy decision, Ms Patel hoped additional decision would remove all inconsistencies, decentralization with a view to provide maximum benefits with minimum efforts for inclusion of records of right to the local people, facilitating loans from banks and financial institutions, solving application for conversion into non-agriculture purpose, reducing the burden of the revenue department for rapid development with employment opportunity.
