Despite resistance, govt fast-tracks land pooling

Despite stiff resistance from landowners and farmers to the government’s attempts to implement the land pooling scheme (LPS) in major towns, the revenue department has stepped up efforts to identify land parcels along highways and roads for the purpose.

The government is keen on the LPS to boost its revenues to fund welfare schemes in the months leading to the 2023 elections, with the Centre imposing restrictions on borrowing.

The state government was forced to withdraw the LPS notification in Warangal on Wednesday after it evoked sharp protests from landowners and farmers. Despite this, the government has instructed collectors to identify land parcels which command huge real estate value, and submit a report by the month-end to enable the government to launch the scheme.

Official sources said that the instructions were sent to the collectors from the office of the Chief Commissioner of Land Administration (CCLA).

Following protests from landowners, collectors have been asked to identify government land, assigned land, and other land parcels that are suitable for realty ventures. They have also been asked to look for private land holdings wherever government land was not available along highways and roads.

Sources added that collectors conveyed to the government that it would be difficult to convince owners to give up land unless the government came up with a clear LPS policy. There was no uniformity in the present scheme which offered 60:40 share of developed land between government and landowners in one case and 70:30 in others. They said that a majority of landowners were demanding a 50:50 share.

Some collectors have reportedly identified 500 acres of government land in the undivided Mahbubnagar district abutting HyderabadBengaluru highway, 400 acres in MedchalMalkajgiri district abutting NH-44 and 500 acres in Ranga Reddy and Vikarabad districts.

However, most of these are assigned lands, which were in possession of farmers.

● AFTER PROTESTS from landowners, collectors have been asked to identify government land, assigned land, and other lands that are suitable for realty ventures.