Land survey to trap benamis

The state government will use the provisions of the Benami Transactions Prohibition (Amendment) Act, 2016 to confiscate land parcels that have no valid ownership documents, in the soonto-be taken up comprehensive land survey.

The government suspects such land parcels may be held by benamis.

In the recent survey conducted by agriculture department to identify agriculture land holdings, no proper details of owners were found for nearly 9 lakh acres.

Agriculture officials took up a door-to-door survey of landowners in all villages in July to check whether the data on agriculture land holdings as per revenue records matched with the addresses and details given by owners. They went to the addresses mentioned repeatedly but found the owners missing in many cases.

Officials could gather the details of owners of 46 lakh acres; those holding 9 lakh acres could not be traced.

Officials suspect that some percentage of these land holdings might be owned by benamis; there are chances of owners migrating to other places in search of livelihood.

During the comprehensive land survey from September 15, officials will cross-check the agriculture survey data especially in the cases were the owners were missing.

The government feels that once the land survey is completed, it will automatically reveal benami properties.

Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao gave indications to this effect while meeting TRS MPs, MLAs and MLCs last week.

A revenue official said the state will have to seek the help of Centre to confiscate such properties.

The Benami Act empowers Centre to confiscate benami properties through the income-tax department. “The government is exploring the possibility of confiscating such properties on its own by amending the Stamps and Registration Act,” he said.

AGRICULTURE land survey showed owners of 9 lakh acres missing. Officials suspect some of the land may be held by benamis.