Bhubaneswar: The Revenue and Disaster Management Department on Saturday directed all district administrations to expedite the updating of forest land records and pattas (land titles) granted to tribal and other traditional forest dwellers in the State.
The directive has been issued by Additional Chief Secretary of the Revenue and Disaster Management Department Dr. Arvind Kumar Padhee.
According to a government release, Padhee has written to all district collectors asking them to complete the pending work related to forest land titles within a fixed timeline.
According to the instructions, the final maps of forest land will be prepared by the Revenue Department in accordance with the rights recognised under the Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act. Authorities have also been asked to incorporate the land details into official records maintained by either the Revenue or Forest Department, wherever applicable.
District collectors have been directed to review forest land rights already recognised by field officials and ensure that pending forest land titles are properly demarcated and recorded. Officials have also been asked to complete the correction of pending pattas and maps in the state’s Bhulekh land records database, so that the recognised rights of beneficiaries are accurately reflected in official land records.
The government has set April 30, 2026, as the deadline for completing these updates and incorporating the revised information into official records.
Officials said the move is expected to strengthen the protection of land rights for eligible beneficiaries and ensure that forest dwellers can access the benefits of various government welfare schemes more effectively.
The initiative is part of the State government’s effort to streamline land documentation and ensure that recognised forest rights are accurately reflected in land records across districts.
