Mon Jan 13 19:27:00 UTC 2025: ## Telangana Congress Govt. Overhauls Land Records System to Address Past Issues

**Hyderabad, January 14, 2025** – The Telangana Congress government is implementing sweeping changes to the state’s land records system, aiming to resolve long-standing issues that plagued farmers under the previous Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) administration. The previous system, characterized by the flawed Dharani portal and the problematic Telangana Rights in Land and Pattadar Passbooks Act (Record of Rights Act), led to widespread confusion, disputes, and financial hardship for farmers.

The Dharani portal, a land record management system operated by a foreign company, suffered from significant inaccuracies, with a mismatch between physical and digital records resulting in 1.836 million acres being wrongly designated as prohibited land. Furthermore, the absence of a local grievance redressal mechanism forced farmers to navigate lengthy and costly court battles. The BRS government’s abolition of village revenue officers and assistants further exacerbated the situation, crippling grassroots-level revenue services.

The Congress government, following recommendations from a committee headed by M. Kodanda Reddy, has repealed the Record of Rights Act and replaced it with the Telangana Bhu Bharati (Record of Rights) Act, 2024. This new act introduces “Bhudhaar cards,” similar to Aadhaar cards, for unique land parcel identification, aiming to minimize boundary disputes and improve record accuracy. The act also establishes a clear grievance redressal mechanism and facilitates faster resolution of disputes concerning land classified as prohibited.

A new farmer-friendly online portal, Bhumata, will replace Dharani, and the vital role of village revenue officers and assistants has been reinstated. Revenue Minister Ponguleti Srinivas Reddy has assured the public that the new act’s rules will be finalized within three months.

While the changes are widely welcomed, the success of this overhaul hinges on effective implementation and transparency. The previous government’s land management failures were cited as a significant factor in their electoral defeat. The efficiency of the new Bhumata portal and the accessibility of local grievance redressal will be crucial in building public trust and solidifying the Congress party’s position, particularly in rural areas.

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