Hyderabad, Apr 13 (UNI) In a significant move to strengthen land security and bring transparency to land records, the Telangana government will dedicate the Bhu Bharati Act and the Bhu Bharati Land Portal to the nation on April 14, coinciding with the 134th birth anniversary of Dr. B.R. Ambedkar.
Revenue, Housing, Information, and Civil Relations Minister Ponguleti Srinivasa Reddy made this announcement during a press conference held at the Secretariat on Sunday.
Minister Ponguleti stated that Chief Minister Revanth Reddy would formally unveil the new Act and portal on Monday.
Describing the initiative as a major step towards safeguarding land rights, particularly for farmers, he emphasised that the Bhu Bharati Act is a fulfillment of the government’s promise to clean up land-related irregularities and ensure ownership protection. He also called the Act a “referendum” for the government, reiterating its importance in the context of the upcoming Legislative Assembly elections.
The portal and Act will be implemented initially in three selected Mandal's across different districts on a pilot basis. Based on the results, the system will be rolled out across the entire state by June 2.
Minister Ponguleti stressed that, unlike previous administrations, which drafted laws hastily and without public input, the Bhu Bharati Act has been shaped through consultations with farmers, intellectuals, and domain experts.
The Minister reiterated that a forensic audit will be conducted into irregularities committed under the earlier Dharani system, ensuring that justice is served and accountability is upheld.
He assured that the new portal is being developed in collaboration with the National Informatics Centre (NIC) and will not disrupt ongoing land registrations, unlike in the past when registrations were halted for months.
He appealed to the public not to overload the portal by logging in all at once after its launch, warning that such traffic could cause service disruptions. He also said that Chief Minister Revanth Reddy has instructed the police to take strict action against any attempts to deliberately sabotage the portal’s functioning.
Minister Ponguleti further announced that Village Revenue Management Officers (VRMOs) will be appointed in the first week of May, with the process already underway.
He added that the Bhu Bharati system introduces a decentralized mechanism for addressing land issues, empowering officials at various levels, from Mandal Revenue Officers to the Chief Commissioner of Land. Tribunals will also be established to resolve disputes, with their number adjusted based on the volume of public complaints.
Highlighting user-friendliness, the Minister noted that the number of modules has been reduced from 33 in Dharani to just six in Bhu Bharati, making the system more accessible.
He also revealed plans to conduct awareness sessions under the supervision of district collectors, with visits to pilot Mandals by himself and other ministers to oversee implementation.
Calling it a new chapter in land governance, Ponguleti concluded by reaffirming the government's commitment to making Bhu Bharati a success and restoring public trust in the land administration system.
UNI VV BD