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Bhu Bharati will replace Dharani on April 14, says Ponguleti

“All district collectors and revenue inspectors have been invited to the event, where the Chief Minister will symbolically launch this people-centric Bhu Bharati initiative,” Srinivas Reddy said

Hyderabad: The government will launch the new Bhu Bharati Act, replacing the controversial Dharani portal, on April 14, coinciding with Dr B.R. Ambedkar’s Jayanti. Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy will formally dedicate the Bhu Bharati Act and Bhu Bharati portal to the people at an event scheduled for 5 pm at Shilpakala Vedika in Hyderabad.

Disclosing these details to the media on Friday, revenue minister Ponguleti Srinivas Reddy described the Bhu Bharati Act, 2025, as a landmark reform under the Congress government's "Indiramma Rajyam" initiative. He said the legislation is aimed at securing the land rights of the poor and marginalised, addressing long standing grievances, and bringing transparency to land administration.

“All district collectors and revenue inspectors have been invited to the event, where the Chief Minister will symbolically launch this people-centric Bhu Bharati initiative,” Srinivas Reddy said.

Taking a strong dig at the previous BRS government, Srinivas Reddy accused it of compromising the land rights of Telangana’s citizens. “The Dharani portal, handed over to foreign companies, endangered 1.57 crore acres of land owned by the people. For three years, it operated without formal rules, effectively mortgaging Telangana’s land,” he alleged.

In contrast, the minister said the Congress-led government swiftly passed the Telangana Bhu Bharati (Record of Rights in Land) Bill, 2024 on December 20, 2024, following up on its 2023 election manifesto promise to dismantle Dharani. The Bill received the Governor’s assent on January 9, 2025, and an expert committee was formed to draft detailed operational guidelines, which have now been finalised.

Srinivas Reddy asserted that the Bhu Bharati Act is designed to ensure land justice. “No matter how many conspiracies arise, as long as we have the people's support, this government will not waver. The Act ensures that even minor land issues are resolved instantly and transparently," he said.

He said that the legislation upheld the dignity and rights of landowners, particularly those from vulnerable communities. “This government is committed to protecting farmers and landholders from exploitation and land alienation,” he said.

Srinivas Reddy also invoked the historic struggles for land rights in Telangana, recalling the contributions of Ravi Narayana Reddy, Arutla Kamaladevi and Chakali Ailamma, who fought for self-respect and ownership and the Bhu Bharati Act drew inspiration from their struggles.

Calling Dharani a “flawed and oppressive mechanism,” the minister said the new legislation would restore transparency, rectify past injustices, and safeguard ownership rights.

Earlier, speaking at a media conference held in Manuguru in Bhadadri-Kothagudem district, Srinivas Reddy said that the Congress has fulfilled its all promises.

He said the Chief Minister would soon lay foundation stone for Pulusu Bonthala project, which would provide irrigation facility to tribal areas in Manuguru area.

Stating that the Congress government was committed to ensure food security to the poor families, he pointed out that fine rice was being supplied to ration card holders from this month. About 80 per cent of beneficiaries of sanna biyyam belongs to SC, ST, BC and minorities.

Srinivas Reddy had lunch in the house of a Koya tribal woman Vanka Shiva Lakshmi at Bojjavari Gumpu in Manuguru mandal. The family members served food prepared with fine rice of PDS to the minister. Mahbubabad MP Balram Naik, Pinapaka MLA Payam Venkateshwarlu, district collector Jithesh V. Patil and ITDA project officer Rahul accompanied the minister.

( Source : Deccan Chronicle )
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