Bihar Government Implements Strict Timelines for Land Measurement
The Revenue and Land Reforms Department of Bihar has announced a significant overhaul of the land measurement process across the state. Deputy Chief Minister Vijay Kumar Sinha, who also heads the department, revealed on Thursday that the government has fixed strict deadlines to expedite land measurement cases.
Mega Campaign with Clear Deadlines
Sinha declared that a land measurement mega campaign will run from January 26 to March 31 throughout Bihar. The new system promises to complete measurement of undisputed land within just seven days. For disputed land cases, the department has set a maximum timeframe of eleven days for completion.
"Now people will not have to wait for months," Sinha emphasized. "The measurement of undisputed land will be completed within seven days and that of disputed cases within a stipulated time frame of eleven days."
Fully Online Process for Transparency
The entire land measurement process will now operate through an online system. According to instructions issued by Principal Secretary C K Anil, all applications must be submitted digitally. Applicants must clearly specify whether their land is undisputed or disputed at the time of application.
This shift to digital processing aims to increase transparency and reduce unnecessary disputes. Sinha explained that the online system will effectively control disputes and gradually decrease land dispute cases across Bihar.
Fee Structure and Urgent Cases
The department has established a clear fee structure for land measurement services:
- Rs 500 per plot in rural areas
- Rs 1,000 per plot in urban areas
For urgent measurement requests, these fees will be doubled. In undisputed cases, applicants must pay the measurement fee along with their application submission.
Streamlined Procedures for Both Categories
For undisputed land cases, the system will automatically issue notices to adjoining landowners. The measurement must then be completed within the seven-day deadline.
In disputed cases, circle officers will determine the nature of the dispute. Within three days of receiving an application, the circle officer must assign a surveyor and set a measurement date. This date must fall within seven days of application receipt.
Notices will be sent to all adjoining landowners through the system, and disputed land measurement must be finished within a maximum of eleven days.
Mandatory Online Reporting and Notification
Surveyors now face mandatory requirements to upload measurement reports online. These reports must be available on the portal within fourteen days from the application date for both disputed and undisputed cases.
The notification process has also been streamlined:
- Village watchmen (chowkidars) will serve notices in disputed cases
- Office staff will handle notices for undisputed cases
- Information can also be sent via registered post
- Automatic SMS alerts will go to all mobile numbers registered with applications
This comprehensive approach represents Bihar government's effort to modernize land administration and provide timely services to citizens. The fixed deadlines aim to end the prolonged waiting periods that previously characterized land measurement processes in the state.
