Ranchi, July 27: Director of state land and revenue department Rajiv Ranjan held a meeting today with officials to chalk out modalities for the safe-keeping of cadastral maps, the first batch of which arrived in the state capital last night after years of wrangling with Bihar to hand over what are essentially detailed pictorial records of land and ownership originally compiled for the purpose of taxation.
Ranjan said as per Section 42 of Bihar Reorganisation Act (2000), Jharkhand was to get possession of the original maps numbering over 82,000. Of these, 32,415 arrived yesterday, while the remaining maps were expected after August 15.
Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar finally okayed the formal transfer of the maps last month, terming it a "goodwill gesture" in favour of the sister state after a request by JVM chief and former chief minister Babulal Marandi during his visit to Bihar. The two have come close recently, with Marandi assuring support to Nitish on his strident anti-liquor campaign that has led to the imposition of total prohibition in Bihar.
Chief minister Raghubar Das has, however, termed the goodwill gesture "petty politics", pointing out that successive governments of Jharkhand had been pursuing the issue with Bihar for years and that getting the maps was a matter of right for the state carved out in 2000.
Explaining the significance and use of cadastral maps, an official in the land and revenue department said, "These will prevent duplication and forgery related to land as the maps provide a pictorial representation of land records of a district. In case of disputes, we can use the maps for the purposes of authenticating conflicting claims."
The maps would also help Jharkhand actively participate in the Centre's national land records modernisation programme. "Thirdly, the maps will serve as a reference point in any form of future land surveys," he added.
Last night at 11.30pm, a team headed by C.K. Mandal, who is senior official in the Bandobast Office of Ranchi district administration, brought in the first instalment of maps from Patna's Gulzarbag press. The 32,415 maps were carried in 44 trunks. These have been kept at the Bandobast office at Kutchery.
"Bringing the remaining maps won't be difficult now. It took us time to bring the first lot due to technical reasons such as making arrangements for transportation and the safe-keeping of the maps. Also, Patna press is in the process of scanning and photocopying each map to keep copies with them," Ranjan said, adding that over the last month, his team had made a couple of visits to Patna to discuss the handover with officials there.
Ranjan said they had identified a hall at the Bandobast Office where the cadastral maps would be stored. "By this evening, work on installing an iron gate is expected to begin. This apart, we have refurbished the hall, making it free of seepage and fire-proof," he explained.
The land and revenue department director pointed out that they were in the process of procuring scanners and printers since both government officials and members of the public would require copies. "Besides, under Digital India Land Records Modernisation Programme, we are in talks with Jharkhand Space Application Centre (JSAC) to begin the process with these maps," Ranjan added.
The chief minister's office in Ranchi issued a statement this evening in which Das thanked Union home minister Rajnath Singh and Nitish for handing over the maps. State minister of land and revenue reforms Amar Kumar Bauri also issued a statement thanking Das for pursuing the matter with Bihar.
