The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh News : Bhu Bharathi implementation tardy: YSR

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Tuesday, Apr 29, 2008
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Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh

Bhu Bharathi implementation tardy: YSR

International symposium on ‘Contemporary trends in cadastral surveys and land titling’ inaugurated

— PHOTO: P. V. SIVAKUMAR

Making displeasure known: Chief Minister Y. S. Rajasekhara Reddy at the international symposium in Hyderabad on Monday. At left is Vinod K. Agarwal, Commissioner of Survey Settlements and Land Records, Rita Sinha, Secretary, Land Resources, and Minister Dharmana Prasad Rao.

HYDERABAD: Chief Minister Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy on Monday expressed displeasure at the slow progress of ‘Bhu Bharathi’, a cadastral survey and land titling project, launched on a pilot basis in Nizamabad district.

Dr. Reddy stated that he was not happy at the speed at which it was being undertaken.

Inaugurating a two-day international symposium on ‘Contemporary trends in cadastral surveys and land titling’ at the MCR HRD Institute, he said the money allotted to the project was not being spent. Only Rs.13 crore was spent so far.

Litigation

Dr. Reddy said the survey was completed in around 500 villages, more than 50 per cent of the total area.

The Government planned to scale up the project to five more districts, but the tendering process got bogged down due to litigation.

The Chief Minister stated that the preliminary estimate for extending the scheme to entire State was around Rs.1,500 crore.

The Government would seek Central help for expediting the project as also for part funding.

The trial was started in Nizamabad because it comprised a good number of urban and rural agglomerations.

Dr. Reddy stressed the need for adoption of best practices and said the Government was aware that the system was a lot better in other countries.

He wanted to send legislators and officials to Australia for studying the methodology.

No clear land titles

Rita Sinha, Secretary, Union Water Resources Ministry, said one per cent of the GDP was getting blocked due to lack of clear land titles.

Vinod Agarwal, Commissioner of Survey and Settlements, said the pilot project covering Nizamabad district would be completed in four to five months.

Considerable interest

Chief Commissioner of Land Administration P. Ramakant Reddy said the project evoked considerable interest from the Government of India and other States.

About 100 delegates, including experts from the UK, US and Thailand, are attending the meet.

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