Patna: The Bihar government has begun action on nearly 4.6 million land-related applications as part of a major statewide effort to address long-pending disputes and improve transparency in land administration. The move comes under the Bhoomi Sudhar Jan Kalyan Samvad programme, which officials say is designed to provide faster and more humane solutions to complex land conflicts.
Deputy chief minister and revenue and land reforms minister Vijay Kumar Sinha informed the legislative council that the campaign seeks to avoid fragmented or inconsistent decisions on complaints. Responding to a short-notice question from member Neeraj Kumar, he said the state has adopted a structured system to ensure that cases are handled systematically and fairly, enabling rightful landowners to access government welfare schemes without delay.
During the revenue drive, authorities received around 4.6 million applications. Of these, nearly 4 million relate to parimarjan or rectification, including corrections in names, account details and plot numbers in official land records. These cases have been placed on priority, with fixed timelines set for disposal to ensure quicker delivery of services.
To improve accountability, the government has set up registration counters at the circle level, where officials from multiple jurisdictions are deployed. This cross-verification process is intended to enhance transparency and reduce the scope for errors or manipulation in record-keeping.
Sinha said the initiative also aims to address the deeper causes of Bihar’s longstanding land conflicts, which have often triggered social tension and violence. “Land disputes are complex and affect both livelihoods and dignity. We want to stop bloodshed and move towards development,” he told the House.
So far, 2,414 of the 8,363 formal complaints examined under the programme have been resolved. The scheme has received support across party lines, with legislative council chairman Awadhesh Narayan Singh calling it popular and effective, while RJD MLC Dr Sunil Kumar Singh also welcomed the government’s efforts to streamline land reforms.
