**Bhubaneswar:** The draft version of the ‘Odisha Land and Revenue Code’ prepared after taking into consideration various revenue laws governing the land revenue administration of State will be published on the official website of Revenue & Disaster Management department inviting suggestions and objections from all sections for enactment of the Code, informed Revenue Minister Maheswar Mohanty today.
Addressing media persons after a meeting with all Revenue Divisional Commissioners (RDCs) in State, Mohanty said that as some of the provisions of the laws were enacted years ago and unable to meet the pressing needs of the changing times, it was felt that a single Revenue Code will be enacted consolidating and simplifying various revenue laws.
After a proposal to this effect was approved by the Chief Minister in February this year, the Revenue department passed a resolution which was published in the Extra Ordinary Odisha Gazette and a 12-member committee, out of which seven are non-official, was formed with the Member, Board of Revenue as Chairperson. The mandate of the Committee was to frame Revenue Code with futuristic outlook.
Following which the Committee prepared the draft version taking into consideration the Odisha Survey and Settlement Act, 1958; the Odisha Special Survey and Settlement Act 2012; the Odisha Govt Land Settlement Act, 1962; the Odisha Prevention of Land Encroachment Act 1972; the Odisha Land Reforms Act 1960, the Odisha Consolidation of Holdings and Prevention of Fragmentation of land Act, 1972 and Odisha Estates Abolition Act, 1951.
There were 299 sections in the set of seven Acts whereas the draft Code has total of 107 sections.
After scrutiny of the suggestions and objections, necessary changes will be effected and steps will be taken for enactment of the Code, said Mohanty.
Some of the important changes suggested in the Code include changing over from the concept of ‘standard acre’ to ‘acre’, introduction of the concept of ‘voluntary consolidation’, introducing special provisions for regularisation of land held by educational institutions and overall simplification.
The committee has recommended conducting a special drive to decide settlement of Nazul, Gramkantha Porambok, Khasmahal, Bebandobast and other category of lands before the new Code is brought into force.
In place of the ‘Raiyat’ and ‘Tenant’ as provided under OLR Act 1960, the new Revenue Code has proposed ‘Land Holder’ which means, Legal Holders of land having right title and interest duly recognised by the law over concerned land.
Under Section 6 of the Revenue Code, ‘Survey by Modern Technology’ has been incorporated. Under Section 8 of the Revenue Code, ‘Preparation of Land Pass Book’ has been incorporated and similarly under section 10, ‘Principle for Fixing Fair and Equitable Rent’ with reference to Benchmark of Valuation of land has been incorporated.
There has been no provision for settlement of land in case of encroachment for more than 30 years in the Code.
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