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Hans India
3 days ago
- Business
- Hans India
Amidst farmer concerns and official apathy: Aadhaar-RTC linking program gets stalled
Bengaluru: Karnataka's ambitious program to link Aadhaar with RTC (Record of Rights, Tenancy, and Crops) documents, aimed at curbing fraudulent land sales and scams, is facing significant delays. The slowdown is attributed to a combination of factors, including a lack of information dissemination, official indifference, fear among farmers of losing government benefits, and concerns about revealing benami (proxy) land registrations. The issue was a prominent point of discussion in a recent meeting held at Vidhana Soudha, attended by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar, senior ministers, and all district commissioners. During the meeting, CM Siddaramaiah reportedly grilled the district commissioners about the sluggish pace of the linking process. Officials were subsequently instructed to expedite efforts to link at least 2.01 crore RTCs with Aadhaar in the coming days. Despite various other responsibilities, revenue department officials have managed to link Aadhaar with 2.27 crore RTCs. However, critics argue that officials have largely failed to generate widespread consensus among farmers and encourage their voluntary participation in the scheme. Revenue Minister Krishna Byre Gowda's Aadhaar seeding initiative, like several other programs he oversees, appears to be stuck at around the '50 percent' mark. According to sources within the Revenue Department, out of 4,36,60,803 RTC holders in the state, Aadhaar had initially been seeded with 1,42,34,656 RTCs. The directive from the aforementioned meeting was to bring at least 2.01 crore farmers under the purview of this scheme as soon as possible. As of June 10, records indicate that 2,27,70,170 RTCs have been linked with Aadhaar. While the Revenue Department claims an 85% progress, when compared to the total number of RTC holders, the actual progress hovers around 50%. Several key reasons are contributing to the campaign's sluggish pace. A major hurdle is the unresolved issue of 'Pouthi Khata' (heir transfer of property), with 60,000-80,000 such cases pending settlement in some districts. Additionally, 24 lakh 'Podhi' (subdivision) cases are pending, along with 15 lakh 'Podhi Durasti' (subdivision correction) cases. Beyond these documentation-related issues, many farmers harbour anxieties and objections regarding the linking of their RTCs with Aadhaar. There's a prevailing fear that this process could lead to a reduction in existing government benefits, electricity subsidies, and centrally sponsored grants. The apprehension that benami registrations might come to light is also a significant factor contributing to the reluctance among farmers.
Hindustan Times
06-05-2025
- Business
- Hindustan Times
Credai Bengaluru president advocates for Mumbai-style redevelopment to tackle land challenges
Amid rising land prices and difficulties in acquiring land in Bengaluru's city centre, the city could benefit from redevelopment policies similar to those in Mumbai. Credai is actively collaborating with policymakers and legislators to advocate for a redevelopment framework tailored to the IT capital, Zayd Noaman, president of Credai Bengaluru, said in an interview with "If Mumbai can successfully implement redevelopment, there's no reason Bengaluru can't follow suit," he said. Credai is actively engaging with policymakers and legislators to advocate for a redevelopment framework tailored to Bengaluru. "The process will take time, as it involves creating new laws and building public consensus, said Noaman. Also Read: Bengaluru's property registrations dip 21% amid E-khata implementation woes "Redevelopment can be a game-changer. Like Mumbai, Bengaluru has many 30–50-year-old buildings that can be redeveloped to unlock valuable land. This benefits not only developers and buyers but also the government by generating significant revenue," Noaman said. Most of the developable land in Bengaluru's city centre is either saturated or extremely expensive. 'Residential development here is challenging due to high land costs, and going forward, we expect more commercial or office projects in these areas,' he said. For residential projects in prime zones to make economic sense, Noaman said the development has to be of a special grade to justify the rent or sale price. "But if we don't begin now, we'll miss the opportunity for years to come. Our view is that if a city like Mumbai can implement redevelopment successfully, there is no reason Bengaluru can't follow suit," Noaman said. Also Read: Bengaluru's municipal corporation achieves 88% of property tax revenue target, issues 2.25 lakh e-Khatas Noaman said that currently, CREDAI has over 230 members in the Bengaluru chapter, and all stakeholders are actively investing in platforms and technologies that improve transparency and accessibility. "We're working to streamline land records, encourage blockchain adoption, and improve processes like e-Khata and title verification. Our goal is to promote sustainable, organised development—unplanned growth stresses urban infrastructure and hampers livability," he said. Noaman said that Credai Bengaluru is collaborating with the city's local municipal corporation, Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP), to streamline the e-khata system, particularly for large developers who need to process bulk applications. "This process goes beyond individual plot owners—it's about ensuring the timely issuance of e-khatas so that they can be seamlessly transferred to homebuyers during registration. To make this possible, we're closely collaborating with government departments to streamline the process. Our focus is also on simplifying RTC (Record of Rights, Tenancy, and Crops) and mutation procedures. Digitising these records will bring greater transparency and efficiency to the revenue system," he said. RTC is an official document that provides details about land ownership and tenancy. Noaman said that, being a complex undertaking, there will be disruptions in the beginning; however, the e-khata system is seeing steady progress. Noaman said that Credai Bengaluru is in discussions with the Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB) to improve water usage efficiency during construction and in residential societies. "One of our proposals involves installing digital water meters in every apartment to help residents monitor their consumption. We also emphasize flood-resilient planning—developments must respect buffer zones and maintain stormwater drains. For example, Prestige has been working on upgrading the nalas to enhance water flow and reduce flood risk," he said. Speaking about real estate potential in the city, he pointed out that Bengaluru is a radial city with ample agricultural land in the peripheries. "While central areas are saturated with limited and expensive land parcels, outer zones still offer opportunities for large-scale development, provided infrastructure is in place. We need better metro and road connectivity to make these regions more livable," he said.
