Patna, Feb 12 (ABN) Deputy Chief Minister Vijay Kumar Sinha on Thursday said the state government is committed to resolving land-related disputes across Bihar and wants to ensure that future generations do not inherit such disputes.
Responding to a short-notice question by Janata Dal United (JDU) MLA Manjit Kumar Singh in the state assembly today, Mr. Sinha said the government is working with all sensitivity to rid Bihar of land disputes and the impact of these efforts is already visible. Calling it a collective responsibility, he said that the government is committed to ensure a permanent solution. The Deputy Chief Minister said that practical difficulties arise in cases of mutation when details like account and Khasra number are not recorded in the land documents. He said that in order to settle the matter, instructions were issued to all settlement officers on 29 October 2024 and 4 March 2025 to conduct a special survey of unsurveyed land categories in revenue villages under the Bihar Special Survey and Settlement Programme. After completion of this process, special survey and settlement work will also be completed in unsurveyed villages of all constituencies. He said that the proceedings related to the ownership and rights of the unsurveyed land are ongoing as advised by the Advocate General.
MLA Mr. Singh through a supplementary question said that about 18.4 lakh hectares of land is unsurveyed in Bihar, which is about 20% of the total area of ​​the state. He said that the process of special survey and settlement is ongoing and it may take more than three years, so the government should fix a clear time limit. He said that many disputes have arisen due to non-survey and farmers are facing many problems related to crop loss and land records.
Minister Sinha while replying to MLA Singh's question said that the survey work was started in 2012, it was reviewed in 2015 and several changes were made in 2019. The government has now set a target of completing the survey within two years. He admitted that due to lack of survey, many small and backward farmers are deprived of government grants and are facing difficulties in buying and selling land.
The minister said that out of 4.6 lakh applications received during Bhumi Siddhar Jan Kalyan Samwad, about 4 million applications are related to accuracy of records and the government has decided to give priority to their immediate settlement. He said that by solving the issues related to reforms, many problems related to land will be solved and it will benefit the small and backward farmers. He further said that the government can consider action on lands where there is no dispute and which have been owned for generations, while disputed lands will be settled through revenue courts or competent courts. Mr. Sinha reiterated the government's commitment that Bihar will be free from land disputes and the administration is working collectively and decisively to ensure a permanent solution. Earlier, Broli MLA Singh had asked the government if September In 2024, the ban on sale and purchase of unsurveyed land in Bihar has been lifted following a Patna High Court order. He said that despite the purchase and sale of unsurveyed land in Arria, Arul, Banka, Begusarai, Jamui, Jehanabad, Katihar, Khagaria, Kishanganj, Lakhisarai, Madhepura, Mangir, Nalanda, West Champaran, Purnia, Saharsa, Sheikhpura, Sheohar, Sitamarhi, Spool, Chapra, Siwan and Gopalganj, entry and exit is not being done, due to which Farmers are not getting the benefit of agricultural schemes.