REVENUE DEPARTMENT

POLICY NOTE

2013-2014

Demand No.41 - Revenue Department

Demand No.51 - Relief on Account of Natural Calamities

Thoppu N.D. Venkatachalam

MINISTER FOR REVENUE

©

Government of Tamil Nadu

2013

ii

INDEX

SUBJECT

PAGE No.

INTRODUCTION

1-3

REVENUE ADMINISTRATION, DISASTER MANAGEMENT AND MITIGATION

4-65

LAND ADMINISTRATION

66-96

LAND REFORMS

97-122

URBAN LAND CEILING AND URBAN LAND TAX

123-129

SURVEY AND SETTLEMENT

130-190

CONCLUSION

191-192

iii

REVENUE DEPARTMENT Introduction

The Revenue Department has the proud

legacy of being the oldest Department in the

Administrative setup of the State.

The functions of erstwhile Board of

Revenue are now being looked after by

different departments, such as Revenue

Administration Department, Land

Administration Department, Land Reforms

Department, Transport Department,

Commercial Taxes Department, Prohibition

and Excise Department.

The Revenue Administration Department

headed by Additional Chief Secretary/

Commissioner of Revenue Administration, is

incharge of District Revenue Administration,

General Administration, Implementation of

social security measures and Disaster

2

Management including relief and restoration

during natural calamities, Issue of Community

certificates, preparation of National Population

Register and distribution of priceless sarees

and dhoties, fan, mixie and grinder also.

The Land Administration Department

headed by the Principal Secretary/

Commissioner of Land Administration is

incharge of land acquisition, alienation,

assignment of lands and house site pattas,

maintenance of survey and land records and

distribution of land pattas.

The Land Reforms Department headed by

the Principal Secretary/ Commissioner of Land

Reforms, is entrusted with agrarian reforms

such as agricultural land ceiling, tenancy

rights, assignment of surplus lands for

agricultural purposes and Chief Minister's

Uzhavar Padhukappu Scheme.

3

The Urban Land Ceiling and Urban Land

Tax Department is headed by the

Commissioner of Urban Land Ceiling and

Urban Land Tax.

The Survey and Land Records Department

headed by the Principal Secretary /

Commissioner of Survey and Settlement is

incharge of Survey, Computerisation of Land

Records, Digitization of Field Measurement,

Global Positioning System and updating of

Land Records etc., At the District level,

Collectors and District Revenue Officers

assisted by the Revenue Divisional Officers,

Tahsildars, Sub-Inspector of Survey, Revenue

Inspectors, Village Administrative Officers and

Village Assistants discharge these duties.

4

REVENUE ADMINISTRATION, DISASTER

MANAGEMENT AND MITIGATION

1.1 Revenue Administration

The Revenue Administration, Disaster

Management and Mitigation Department is

incharge of District Revenue Administration,

which is the backbone of general

administration. This department, besides

looking after the issue of various certificates,

implementation of social security schemes and

public welfare schemes is also responsible for

relief and restoration measures during natural

calamities.

1.2 New Taluk Formation

At present there are 32 Districts, 77

Revenue Divisions, 229 Taluks, 1136 Firkas

and 16671 Revenue Villages in the state.

5

Based on the announcement made by the

Hon’ble Chief Minister on the floor of Assembly

under Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly Rule

110, the Government have issued orders vide

G.O. (2D) No.176, Revenue [RA.1(1)]

Department, dated 15.06.2012 constituting a

High Level Committee consisting PS/CRA.

PS/CLA and PS/CLR as members for the

purpose of scrutinizing the reports of the

District Collectors for bifurcation of 62 taluks in

25 Districts which have been identified as

having a population of more than 4 lakhs as

per 2011 census in a span of 3 years. The

Committee in its meetings scrutinized the

preliminary reports sent by the Collectors for

bifurcation of 42 taluks and resolved to accept

the recommendations of the Collectors. The

Collectors of the concerned Districts have been

asked to send their full-fledged reports.

6

Government Orders have already been

issued in respect of the 9 taluks during the

year 2012-13. It has been decided to bifurcate

more taluks during the Financial Year 2013-

2014.

1.3 Public Grievances Redressal Scheme

Every Monday all the District Collectors/

Revenue Divisional Officers and Tahsildars

remain in their respective headquarters,

receive petitions from the public and take

action for the redressal of their grievances.

The petitions mainly relate to requests for old

age pension, patta transfer, grant of house

sites, issue of ration cards etc. There is a need

to classify petitions based on the nature of

request and hence instructions were given in

G.O.(Ms)No.364, Revenue [RA3(2)]

Department, dated 28.11.2011 to computerize

the registration of petitions uniformly in all the

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Districts by adopting common software which

will record the date of receipt and also date of

disposal. The petitions which are repeatedly

given will be specifically classified using this

software. This software enables online

tracking of status of the petition. The District

Collectors have been instructed to review the

pendency of petitions and also look into the

quality of disposal. The details regarding

disposal of petitions are also being entered

online.

1.4 Mass Contact Programme

The Mass Contact Programme is conducted

in a particular village of the District on the

second Wednesday of every month.

Preference is given to those villages which are

located in remote areas far from the taluk

headquarters. On that day, all the important

officers of the District headed by the Collector

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assemble in the village and redress the

grievances of the villagers, after hearing them

in person. Old Age Pension sanction orders,

house site pattas and patta transfer orders are

delivered to the applicants in person.

It has been brought to the notice of the

Government that advance information is not

given to the villagers for collection of petitions

and instead the majority of petitions are

collected only on the day the Mass Contact

Programme is held. To make the programme

more purposeful, instructions have been

issued in G.O. (Ms) No.244, Revenue

[RA-3(2)] Department, dated 08.08.2011 that

District Collector should depute a team of

officials consisting of the 1) Special Deputy

Collector (Social Security Scheme), 2) Revenue

Divisional Officer, 3) District Adi Dravidar and

Tribal Welfare Officer and 4) District Backward

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Classes and Minorities Welfare Officer on the

third Wednesday of every month to the village

to collect and register petitions. The petitions

will then be brought to the Collectorate and

distributed among various departments and

the final reply is given to the petitioner on the

second Wednesday when the Collector goes to

the village during the next month.

1.5 AMMA THITTAM (Assured Maximum

Service to Marginal People in All villages)

As per AMMA THITTAM, a team of

Revenue Officials headed by the Tahsildar will

visit one village every Tuesday and will receive

petitions regarding the grievances of the

people residing in that village such as

petitions relating to pension schemes under

Social Security Schemes, transfer of pattas,

Uzhavar Security Card, Community, Income

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and Nativity Certificates, Birth and Death

certificates, issue of ration card etc., and

action will be taken to issue orders quickly

after examining the same. Likewise petitions

relating to the common problems in the village

will be sent to the concerned departments and

necessary action will be taken.

Further, the Honourable Chief Minister has

also issued laptops to the VAOs., so that all

the petitions can be entered in their laptops

and proper reply furnished for each and every

petitions. Likewise problems in every taluk will

be addressed extensively by this ‘AMMA

THITTAM’. Further, the schemes implemented

by the Government will reach the public

through this Camps and also the public will be

aware of all the Government schemes in this

State. As on 31.3.2013, 1,50,112 petitions

have been received and orders have been

11

passed on 55,672 petitions, since the

introduction of the Scheme vide G.O.(Ms)

No.70, Revenue [RA.3(2)] Department, dated

4.3.2013.

1.6 Social Security Schemes

The Government of Tamil Nadu is

implementing Social Security Pension Schemes

such as, Old Aged Persons, Differently Abled

persons, Widows, Destitute Agricultural

Labourers, Destitute / Deserted Wives and

Unmarried, Poor, Incapacitated Women of age

50 years and above.

The Hon’ble Chief Minister has ordered

immediately on assumption of charge to

enhance the monthly pension under Social

Security Pension Schemes from Rs.500/- to

Rs.1000/- with effect from May 2011.

12

As on 31.03.2013, a total of 30.72 lakhs

persons are benefited under the following

social security schemes.

Sl. No

Name of the Schemes No. of beneficiaries

(as on 31.03.2013)

1. Indira Gandhi National Old Age Pension Scheme

13,40,154

2. Indira Gandhi National Disability Pension Scheme

50,911

3. Indira Gandhi National Widow Pension Scheme

4,58,599

4. Destitute Differently Abled Pension Scheme

1,81,063

5. Destitute Widows Pension Scheme 4,54,361 6. Destitute Agricultural Labourers

Pension Scheme * 4,28,529

7. Destitute / Deserted Wives Pension Scheme

1,38,943

8. Pension to Unmarried, poor, incapacitated women of age 50 years and above

19, 424

Total 30,71,984 * Implemented through Chief Minister’s Uzhavar Padhukaapu Thittam.

13

Out of 8 Social Security Pension Schemes

mentioned above, 3 schemes namely, Indira

Gandhi National Old Age Pension Scheme,

Indira Gandhi National Disability Pension

Scheme and Indira Gandhi National Widow

Pension Scheme get assistance at the rate of

Rs.200/-, Rs.300/- and Rs.300/- as mentioned

below from the Government of India. The

remaining amount is borne by the State

Government. For the remaining schemes, the

entire amount is being met by the State

Government. In India, the Tamil Nadu State

Government has been contributing the highest

amount of Rs.800/- to the monthly pension

compared to all other States.

14

Sl.No.

Name of the Scheme Eligibility Norms

G.O.I. contribution.

60 to 79 years Rs.200/- 1. Indira Gandhi National Old Age Pension Scheme

80 years and above

Rs.500/-

2 Indira Gandhi National Disability Pension Scheme

18 to 79 years Rs.300/-

3 Indira Gandhi National Widow Pension Scheme

40 to 79 years Rs.300/-

1.6.1 Disbursement of Social Security Pensions through banks using Bio-metric Smart Cards.

The Government issued orders in G.O.(Ms)

No.14, Social Welfare and Nutritious Meal

Programme Department, dated 25.1.2012 to

disburse the Social Security Pensions through

banks using Bio-metric Smart Cards in 3

phases.

a) In the first phase, 4,445 villages in the State with more than 2000 population, as per 2001 census has been taken up.

15

b) In the second phase, all the villages with population between 1000 and 2000 as per 2001 census will be taken up.

c) In the third phase, all the other villages and urban areas will be covered for disbursement of pension through banks using biometric enabled smart cards.

Under the first phase, out of 4,445

villages, 6,24,751 beneficiaries have been

covered by this scheme.

1.7 Other Benefits

Under Social Security Pension Schemes,

one saree per female pensioner and one dhoti

per male pensioner are distributed twice a

year during Pongal and Deepavali festivals to

all the pensioners.

The beneficiaries under the above

schemes are permitted to draw rice free of

cost as per the following scale :-

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a) 4 Kgs of fine variety rice per month for those who do not take meals at the Anganwadi Centres.

b) 2 kgs of fine variety rice per month for those who take meals at the Anganwadi Centres

1.8 Accident Relief Scheme and Distress Relief Scheme

Under these schemes, the Government of

India have increased the lump sum grant from

Rs.10,000/- to Rs.20,000/- and also revised

eligibility criteria from 18 – 64 years to 18 – 59

years with effect from 18.10.2012.

Accordingly, a sum of Rs.20,000/- is being

paid as relief under Accident Relief Scheme

and Distress Relief Scheme to the households

below the poverty line on the death of the

primary bread winner in the age group of

18 – 59 years.

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1.9 Distribution of Electric Fans / Induction Stoves, Mixies and Grinders to Women Beneficiaries

In G.O.(Ms) No.2, SPI Department, dated

03.6.2011, the Government have announced

the Scheme of distribution of package of

Electric fans, Mixies and Grinders which is one

of the schemes in the election manifesto, to

women beneficiaries, belonging to 1.85 crore

families holding family cards which are eligible

for drawing rice as on 30.06.11 in a phased

manner.

For implementing the scheme in rural and

urban areas the distribution task has been

entrusted to Revenue Department. All the

three items under this scheme are being

distributed to the beneficiaries simultaneously.

Priority for distribution should be given to

rural areas within the Assembly Constituency,

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followed by Town Panchayats, Municipalities

and Municipal Corporation with reference to

the ascending order of the population.

This scheme was inaugurated by the Hon’ble

Chief Minister on September 15th, 2011 at

Kakkalur, Tiruvallur District. In this scheme, it

has been decided by Government to distribute

Induction Stove, in lieu of electric fan, in hilly

areas such as The Nilgiris District and

Kodaikanal area in Dindigul District.

In this scheme, 60 lakh (25+35) packages of

Fan/ Stove, Mixie and Grinder were allotted for

distribution for Phase-I (2011-12) and Phase-

II (2012-13) and 41,14,423 packages have

been distributed as on 31.03.2013 in all the

Assembly Constituencies.

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1.10 Issue of Certificates to Students through Schools

Different types of certificates required by

the public and especially by the students, are

being issued by the Revenue Department.

The three essential certificates required by

students for availing scholarships and

admissions are Community, Nativity and

Income certificates.

With a view to reducing the delay and

hardship faced by the students in getting

certificates, a time bound performance of

issuing certificate to all students in 6th

standard itself through schools has been

ordered in G.O.(Ms) No.184, Revenue

[RA 3(2)] Department, dated 5.6.2012.

Totally 10,76,644 students are studying in

6th standard in this academic year. Out of

those students, applications were received

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from 9,11,309 students and 8,79,390 eligible

students have been issued with certificates, in

the schools in which they are studying.

1.11 National Population Register

National Population Register – Biometric

capturing enumeration work, viz.,

Photographs, Finger Prints and Iris images

(Biometric) of the individuals (5 years and

above) has been taken up in a phased

manner. This work is being executed by BEL

(Bharath Electronics Limited) Bangalore and

monitored by the Director of Census

Operations, Tamil Nadu. Out of 32 Districts,

1st phase of the work have been completed in

four Districts viz., Ariyalur, Perambalur, Karur

and Pudukkottai Districts.

Periodical review meetings are conducted

twice in a month about the progress in

coverage by Additional Chief Secretary/

21

Commissioner of Revenue Administration

(Nodal Officer) with Census officials and

suitable instructions are being issued to

District Collectors and all concerned to

complete the work within the targeted time.

As against the targeted population of

6,74,18,169, the coverage so far is

2,95,75,366 (44%) and the work is on going

to cover the balance population in the State.

1.12 Scheme of Distribution of Priceless Sarees and Dhoties. For the rural population, weaving is the

largest occupation after agriculture. With a

view towards benefiting the poor and with the

objective of providing higher employment

opportunities in the handloom and power loom

sector and to bring about renaissance, the

scheme of distribution of supplying Priceless

Sarees and Dhoties was introduced.

22

With a noble intention of supplying good

quality sarees and dhoties to the poor, the

production and distribution of polycotton

sarees and dhoties were introduced in the

year 2003. For Pongal 2005, the Government

have extended the scheme of Free

distribution of Sarees and Dhoties to all people

living below poverty line in Rural and Urban

areas. During the year 2012, the scheme of

distribution of Free Dhoties and Sarees has

been renamed as Priceless Sarees and Dhoties

Scheme.

For Pongal 2013, 1,73,21,457 Priceless

Sarees and 1,73,63,247 Priceless Dhoties have

been supplied to the Districts by Co-optex and

1,72,94,979 Sarees and 1,73,52,630 Dhoties

were distributed to the beneficiaries.

23

1.13 Revenue Buildings

As the Revenue Department plays a vital

role in the District administration, provision of

office buildings and related infrastructure

required by the revenue machinery always

receives priority from the Government. The

buildings under the control of Revenue

Department include office and residential

buildings of the District Collectors, District

Revenue Officers, Revenue Divisional Officers,

Tahsildars, Revenue Inspectors and Village

Administrative Officers. Every year, necessary

funds are being allotted for construction of

new buildings and additional office buildings

required for the District Administration,

quarters and other infrastructural facilities as

well as repair of buildings of Revenue

Department.

24

1.13.1 District Collectorate Buildings

Of the 32 Districts in the State, 31

Collectorates are housed in Government

Buildings. In the newly created Tiruppur

District, District Collectorate and other

Government offices are presently functioning

in the Tiruppur integrated Marketing

Committee Campus. Hence Government have

issued orders for construction of Master Plan

Complex for Tiruppur at a cost of Rs 52.13

crores. Further Government have also issued

orders for construction of new Master Plan

Complexes at Thanjavur and Cuddalore each

at a cost of Rs.25.00 crore. The Hon’ble Chief

Minister has made an announcement in the

Collector’s Conference held on 19-12-2012, for

construction of additional building in the

Master Plan Complex at Ramanathapuram for

accommodating 35 Departments, for

25

construction of a new building in The Nilgiris

for accommodating 28 offices and also for

construction of new building for Coimbatore

Collectorate. The Hon'ble Chief Minister has

also ordered to renovate the Heritage office

buildings in Kanniyakumari.

1.13.2 Revenue Divisional Office Buildings

The State has 77 Revenue Divisional

Offices, of which 74 Revenue Divisional offices

are accommodated in Government Buildings.

In respect of 3 offices, Government have

issued orders for construction of new buildings

for Tambaram, Udumalpet and Ambattur

Divisions at a total cost of Rs.3.79 crore.

26

1.13.3 Taluk Office Buildings

There are 229 Taluk offices in the State,

of which 208 Taluk offices are accommodated

in Government buildings. Government have

issued orders for construction of new buildings

for 12 Taluk offices at 1.Kadavur, 2.Sulur,

3.Udaiyarpalayam, 4.Chinnasalem,

5.Tiruporur, 6.Annur, 7.Kinathukadavu,

8.Andhiyur, 9.Kolli Hills, 10.Alathur,

11.Thiruppuvanam and 12.Kalasapakkam at a

total cost of Rs.26.35 Crore. For the

remaining 9 taluks, viz., 1.Ponnamaravathi,

2.Karambakudi, 3.Kuthalam, 4.Kurinjipadi,

5.Madhavaram, 6.Madathukulam, 7.Alandur,

8.Sholinganallur and 9.Ambur action will be

taken to construct office buildings in a phased

manner.

27

1.13.4 Buildings for Revenue Inspectors

Of the 1136 Revenue Inspectors in the

State, 1093 Revenue Inspectors (except

Chennai) have been provided with office-cum-

residence buildings. Government have issued

orders for construction of new office-cum-

residence buildings for Chettikulam and

Pasumbalur Revenue Inspectors in Perambalur

District at a total cost of Rs.20 lakhs. Further,

the proposals for construction of 7 new

Revenue Inspector office-cum-quarters at

Vengalam in Perambalur District, S.Tharakudi

and Appanoor in Ramanathapuram District,

Samayanallur in Madurai District, Kolathur,

Chozhapuram and Kayathar in Thoothukudi

District have been approved under Part II

scheme for the year 2013-14.

28

1.13.5 Buildings for Village Administrative Officers

Of the 12,614 Village Administrative

Officers in the State, 12,300 Village

Administrative Officers have been provided

with office buildings. The Proposals for

construction of new office buildings for 9

Village Administrative Officers at Ammoor-I,

Ammoor-II, Pallikonda and Kaniyambadi at

Vellore District, Peraiyampatti and

E.Kumaralingapuram in Virudhunagar District,

Nanjanadu-I, Nanjanadu-II and Thuneri in The

Nilgiris District have been approved under Part

II scheme for the year 2013-14

1.14 Village Administration.

3484 Village Administrative Officers were

appointed through Tamil Nadu Public Service

Commission during the year 2011-2012 and

29

1781 out of 1870 were appointed for the

year 2012-2013 as per G.O.(Ms) No.507,

Revenue [Ser-VII (1)] Department, dated

17.10.2012. 89 vacancies are to be filled up

by the TNPSC as on date.

Out of 627 posts of VAOs sanctioned for

appointment under compassionate grounds

for the year 2012-2013 as per G.O.(Ms)

No.507, Revenue [Ser-VII (1)] Department,

dated 17.10.2012, 106 posts have been filled

up by Collectors and the remaining 521 posts

will be filled up by the Collectors shortly.

As per the administrative instructions, the

VAOs’ are being given survey training for 4

weeks and administrative training for 6

weeks. The Government have sanctioned

Rs.1.03 crore for VAOs training. Training

commenced on 9.2.2013 for 10 weeks.

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1.15 Provision of Laptop, printer to impart training to Village Administrative Officers

On 14.11.2011 at the Collector’s

Conference, the Hon’ble Chief Minister

announced the sanction of Laptop with

Printers to Village Administrative Officers for

better service delivery to the people. As per

G.O.(Ms) No.87, Revenue [RA.2(2)]

Department, Dated 09.03.2012, a sum of

Rs.22,48,88,560/- have been sanctioned

towards purchase of laptops with printers and

impart training through M/s. ELCOT to 7787

Village Administrative Officer in 1st Phase. The

laptops with printers have been handed over

to Village Administrative Officers and Training

imparted through M/s. ELCOT.

Proposals are under examination in

Government for purchase of 4827 laptops with

31

printers and give training to 4827 Village

Administrative Officers and to sanction a sum

of Rs. 14.80 crores.

1.15.1 Provision of Laptop to Revenue Inspectors Proposals are under examination in

Government for issue of laptops to 1136

Revenue Inspectors at a cost of Rs.2.08

crores.

1.16 Land Revenue

The total area of Wet and Dry lands

registered as per revenue records in Tamil

Nadu is as follows:

Wet Lands - 16,57,676 Hectares

Dry Lands - 67,80,080 Hectares

32

Land Revenue is being collected as follows:

a. Collection of Rs.5/- per hectare for Dry

Land and Rs.12/- per hectare for Wet

Land.

b. ‘B’ Memo penalty of Rs.12/- is collected

in respect of unobjectionable

encroachments on Government

Poromboke Lands.

c. A minimum amount of Re.1/- (Basic

Assessment) is collected for every

Patta that is registered.

Land Revenue demand for the fasli 1420

(2010-11) is Rs.10.43 crores and collected

amount is Rs.10.55 crores. Settled Land

Revenue Demand for the Fasli 1421 (2011-

2012) is Rs.10.13 crores and the collection of

Land Revenue for the Fasli 1421 and arrear

33

land revenue is Rs.14.4 crores. Provisional

Land Revenue for the Fasli 1422 (2012-2013)

is Rs.7.52 crores.

The land revenue collection year is

computed from 1st July every year. The

Jamabandhi programme is approved by the

Collector every year and published in the

District Gazette. The closure of the revenue

accounts is done through the conduct of

Jamabandhi every year.

1.16.1 Land Revenue Remission

In G.O.(2D) No.166, Revenue (R.A.1)

Department, dated 14.04.2012 the

Government have issued the following order:

i) Due to crop damages caused by ‘Thane

Cyclone’ 2012 in Cuddalore and

Villupuram Districts, the Government

waived land tax to the tune of

34

Rs.21,35,415/- (in 3,05,626 hectares) in

Cuddalore and Rs.48,50,000/- (in

4,63,292 hectares) in Villupuram District

for the fasli 1421.

ii) The Government have waived the

entire land tax in the Districts of

Tiruvarur, Nagapattinam, Tiruvallur,

Kancheepuram, Thanjavur,

Tiruvannamalai, Dharmapuri, Vellore,

Salem and Ariyalur in cases where the

crop damages are more than 50% for

the fasli 1421.

1.17 Disaster Management

The State of Tamil Nadu, which is located

in the vulnerable part of the Indian Peninsula

is subjected to both climate and geological

related disasters viz., cyclone, flood,

earthquakes, tsunami and drought to varying

35

degrees. The 13 coastal Districts, viz.,

Chennai, Kancheepuram, Tiruvallur,

Cuddalore, Villupuram, Thanjavur, Tiruvarur,

Nagapattinam, Pudukottai, Ramanathapuram,

Thoothukudi, Tirunelveli and Kanniyakumari

are highly vulnerable and affected by the

trough and depression formed in the Bay of

Bengal during Southwest and Northeast

monsoon periods.

1.17.1 Institutional arrangements to manage disasters in the State

The Revenue Administration, Disaster

Management and Mitigation Department,

Government of Tamil Nadu is the nodal

department to deal with all natural calamities

and the Additional Chief Secretary /

Commissioner of Revenue Administration is

also the State Relief Commissioner. Observing

the recent trends in disaster management

36

issues as per the guidelines of Government of

India, Ministry of Home Affairs and also the

suggestions given by the Comptroller and

Auditor General, modalities are being worked

out to improve the existing systems. It is

proposed to review the disaster management

policy, issued by the State, even before the

notification of the Central Disaster

Management Act of 2005. Further keeping

under consideration the proactive approach of

the State Government to provide adequate

relief to the victims of natural disaster, it is

proposed to reorganize and strengthen the

State Disaster Management Agency, by

merging it with the Tsunami Project

Management Unit. The State Disaster

Management Agency , shall also function as

the executive office of the State Disaster

Management Authority, headed by the Hon’ble

37

Chief Minister. It is further proposed to

strengthen the Emergency Control Rooms at

the State level and the Districts, by providing it

with manpower and other infrastructural

support. All the other departments have been

asked to formulate State Disaster Management

Plan and District Disaster Management Plans,

and disaster specific standard operating

procedures, as per the guidelines of

Government of India, Ministry of Home Affairs

and National Disaster Management Authority.

1.17.2 Pre-monsoon preparedness Measures

A Pre-monsoon preparedness review

meeting chaired by the Chief Secretary is held

before the onset of North-East Monsoon.

Similarly in the Districts, a District Coordination

Committee Meeting is held under the

Chairmanship of District Collector with the line

38

departments. Based on the suggestions and

feedback received during the meeting,

necessary preventive measures are taken.

Mock drills are also conducted to sharpen and

improve the response of all stakeholders.

An Emergency Operation Centre (EOC) is

functioning in the Office of the State Relief

Commissioner throughout the year. Advance

information on disasters is received in this

centre and disseminated to the concerned

authorities for taking immediate follow up

action. Besides, telephone, computers and fax

facilities, a toll free public utility services

Telephone No. 1070 has been installed in the

centre.

1.17.3 Rain-gauge Stations

There are 392 rain gauge stations in the

State which are well distributed throughout

39

the State. The rainfall recorded in these

stations are sent to the office of the State

Relief Commissioner. These rain gauge

stations are periodically inspected by the

staff of India Meteorological Department and

Revenue Department.

1.17.4 Cyclone Shelters

There are 124 cyclone shelters in the

State. In addition, under Coastal Disaster

Risk Reduction Project, 121 multipurpose

evacuation shelters with evacuation routes

are proposed to be constructed at a cost of

about Rs.315 crores.

1.17.5 Rainfall 2012

The normal annual rainfall of the State is

920.9 mm. During southwest monsoon period

2012, the State received 245.7 mm of actual

rainfall against the normal rainfall of

40

321.2 mm with a deviation of -24%. The

State receives northeast monsoon rainfall

during the months of October, November and

December. In the year 2012, the Northeast

monsoon commenced on 19.10.2012 and the

State received 370.5 mm rainfall during the

Northeast monsoon period against the normal

rainfall of 440.4 mm which is -16% deficit.

The Districts of Krishnagiri, Villupuram,

Vellore, Tirunelveli and Tiruvannamalai

received excess rainfall during North-East

Monsoon 2012.

A meeting was conducted by the Hon’ble

Chief Minister on 20.10.2012 with the Hon’ble

Ministers and officials of line departments to

review the steps taken on account of North-

East Monsoon and the relief to be provided to

the affected people. The Hon’ble Chief Minister

announced the following revised relief

41

assistances after the review of the line

departments on account of North-East

Monsoon of 2012:

a) Relief amount of Rs. 2.50 lakhs,

i.e. Rs.1.50 lakh from State Disaster

Response Fund and Rs. 1 lakh from Chief

Minister’s Public Relief Fund will be

provided to the families of the deceased.

b) 10 kgs rice, 1 saree, 1 dhoti, 1 litre

kerosene and Rs.1000 cash assistance will

be provided to those who are evacuated

from their houses and accommodated in

the safe shelters.

c) Relief assistance of Rs.5,000/- for fully

damaged huts and Rs.2,500/- for partly

damaged huts will be provided.

42

d) Relief assistance of Rs. 20,000/- for loss of

cow / bullock and Rs.2,000/- for loss of

sheep / goat will be provided.

e) Rs.100/- will be provided for a lost poultry.

Based on the above announcement, the

Government in G.O. (Ms) No.380, Revenue

Department, dated 25.10.2012 issued orders

for providing above relief assistance.

1.17.6 Cyclone ‘ Nilam’

The cyclonic storm ‘Nilam’ which centered

at Tamil Nadu crossed the Tamil Nadu coast at

Mahabalipuram between 4.30 p.m. to 6.00

p.m. on 31.10.2012.

To combat the effects of cyclone, the

entire State Relief machinery was mobilized in

full gear with District Collectors in charge in

the Districts and Corporation Commissioner in

43

charge in Chennai Corporation limits. The

Police and Fire service personnel and line

departments like Public Works Department,

Highways and local bodies were also drafted in

full strength and were kept ready for any

eventuality. Further, 6 teams of National

Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and 2 teams

of State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) were

deployed to aid rescue and relief operations.

More than 22,223 people were evacuated and

accommodated in 183 safe shelters and food

packets and safe drinking water were supplied

to them.

Due to the timely advisories of the

Government and the proactive preparedness

measures taken by the District Administration,

the loss of life and property were minimized

and effective management of after effects of

cyclone Nilam was ensured. No loss of life

44

was reported from the coastal villages due to

timely evacuation.

1.17.7 Damages caused due to cyclone ‘Nilam’

Totally 15 deaths were reported due to

cyclone. Out of this 6 deaths occurred due to

grounding of the ship ‘Pratibha Kaveri’ at

Marina Beach. 90 cattle deaths, 477 cases of

fully damaged huts and 4078 cases of partly

damaged huts have been reported and relief

was disbursed as per norms.

The Government in G.O.(Ms) No. 440,

Revenue (DM-II) Department, dated

15.12.2012 have sanctioned a sum of Rs.54

crores for restoration / relief to the damage

caused due to cyclone ‘Nilam’.

45

Sl. No. Name of the Department

Amount sanctioned

(Rs. In lakhs)

1 Agriculture (subsidy to farmers for agricultural crops 16773.54 Ha) 1677.35

2 Horticulture ( subsidy to farmers for Horticultural crops 546.59 Ha) 41.00

3 Fisheries 10.11 4 Municipal Administration 1069.12 5 PWD (WRD) 700.86 6 Public Health and Preventive Medicine 15.10 7 TANGEDCO 1926.10 8 Tamil Nadu Water Supply and Drainage

Board 2.82

9 Chennai Corporation 11.66 10 Collectors 10.60

Total 5464.72

1.17.8 State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF)

Relief Assistance is normally provided from

the State Disaster Response Fund (earlier

known as Calamity Relief Fund). The amounts

allotted under the State Disaster Response

Fund for the period from 2010 to 2015 are as

follows:-

46

In addition to the above, a sum of Rs.25

crores (Rs.5 crores for each year) is provided

as Grant towards Capacity Building for

Disaster Management during 2010-11 to

2014-15, based on the 13th Finance

Commission’s recommendation.

The Government in G.O. (Ms) No.7,

Revenue (DM II) Department, dated:

09.01.2013 have enhanced the input subsidy

from Rs.4000/- to Rs.5000/- per acre for

Paddy crop loss of more than 50% in Delta

region.

Year

Allocation (Rs. in crores)

2010-2011 293.52

2011-2012 308.20

2012-2013 323.61

2013-2014 339.79

2014-2015 356.78

Total 1621.90

47

1.18 Drought Management

Tamil Nadu State has been subject to

drought in the recent years, in 1981, 1982,

1987, 1988, 1995, 2002, 2003 and 2004. Due

to insufficient rains and non-release of

Cauvery water for agriculture purposes by the

neighbouring state of Karnataka, water level in

the most of the irrigation reservoirs and

drinking water supply reservoirs has gone

down appreciably. The water level in the two

major irrigation reservoirs, viz., Mettur and

Bhavanisagar which cater to the needs of

farmers in the delta region has gone down to

such a level that most of the farmers could not

take up cultivation and yield loss is being

faced by those who have already taken up

cultivation. The drinking water position in

most pockets of the state is also grim. Thus

an adverse seasonal condition is prevailing due

48

to the above factors. Most of the

environmental factors predicted a drought like

situation in the State.

Risk Analysis was done right from the

month of August 2012, and anticipating the

failure of southwest monsoon 2012 and non-

release of Cauvery Water by the neighbouring

State of Karnataka, the Hon’ble Chief Minister,

took many proactive measures to save the

Kuruvai and Samba crops.

In view of the delay in opening of the

Mettur Dam and to help the farmers of Delta

Districts, the Hon’ble Chief Minister ordered a

special package of Rs.68.01 Crores on

24-08-2012. Besides, the Hon’ble Chief

Minister also ordered an additional special

package for Rs.69.88 Crores on 05-12-2012 to

the farmers of Delta Districts.

49

Keeping under consideration the above

mentioned adverse seasonal conditions, the

Hon’ble Chief Minister has announced

formation of a High Level Committee to assess

the drought situation in the State and suggest

suitable remedial measures to the

Government. Accordingly a High Level

Committee was constituted vide G.O. (Ms.)

No.4, Revenue (DM III-1), Department, dated

05.01.2013 with the Hon’ble Finance Minister

as Chairman, Ministers of other departments

and HODs of line departments as Members.

The first meeting of the committee was held

on 08.01.2013 wherein it took stock of the

situation and did a critical review. It was

decided to take up field visits to the affected

areas in the Districts to assess the ground

situation in phases. The High Level

Committee visited Thanjavur, Nagapattinam,

50

Tiruvarur, Ariyalur and Tiruchirappalli from

10.01.2013 to 12.01.2013 and furnished its

report to the Honb’le Chief Minister on

29.1.2013. The recommendations of the High

Level Committee was submitted to

Government by the High Level Committee on

31.1.2013.

After considering the above, the Hon’ble

Chief Minister announced Drought in the 31

Districts of the State of Tamil Nadu except

Chennai District on the floor of the Assembly

on 08.02.2013 and announced various relief

measures. Accordingly, orders were issued by

the Government vide G.O. (Ms) No. 48,

Revenue [D.M.III(1)] Department, dated

13.2.2013 as detailed below :

• All the 31 Districts in the State, except

Chennai, shall be declared as Drought

affected.

51

• Relief assistance of Rs. 15,000/- per acre

shall be given to 1.75 lakh agriculturists

covering 3.61 lakhs acre whose crops

were affected by more than 50%. This

will comprise relief from State Disaster

Response fund, Crop Insurance and

Special Additional Cauvery Relief.

• As the State Government have

undertaken payment of premium amount

for crop insurance for the agriculturists in

Cauvery Delta Region, insurance claim

amount will be paid according to crop loss

for the agriculturists whose crop loss is

less than 50%.

• The ceiling in number of working days

under MGNREGS shall be enhanced from

100 days to 150 days.

52

• 15,000 Farms Ponds shall be formed

under the MGNREGS through Rural

Development and Panchayat Raj

department at a cost of Rs. 181 Crores in

the Delta Districts.

• Other Employment Generation schemes

shall be implemented at a cost of

Rs. 1,336 crores. Totally, the agricultural

labourers in Cauvery Delta regions shall

get wages to the tune of

Rs. 1,517 Crores.

• As a relief measure to provide fodder to

cattle at a total cost of Rs. 47.85 Crores

the following relief measures shall be

undertaken through the Animal

Husbandry, Dairy Development and

Fisheries Departments - Supply of Green

Fodder at a cost of Rs. 5 crores.,

Concentrated feed at a cost of Rs. 15

53

crores, Dry fodder at a cost of Rs.15

crores and for Fisheries in Farm Ponds at a

cost of Rs.12.85 crores.

• Schemes to tackle drinking water scarcity

in delta regions shall be undertaken for

augmentation of source of water supply,

and for drinking water supply by Municipal

Administration and water supply

Department at a cost of Rs. 7.02 crores,

for water supply in Town Panchayat areas

at a cost of Rs. 18.03 Crores and for

supply of water in Municipal areas at a

cost of Rs.12.20 Crores. Thus schemes for

Rs.37.25 crores will be undertaken.

• De-silting of lakes and reconstruction of

tanks shall be done by PWD.

• Land Revenue payable by farmers shall be

waived in all Districts.

54

• Considering the difficulties faced by the

farmers due to drought, the crop loans

taken by the farmers from co-operative

banks shall be rescheduled.

• The ceiling on number of days on

employment under MGNREGS shall be

enhanced from 100 days to 150 days in

order to benefit the 3.34 lakhs agricultural

labourers in non-delta Districts.

• A Drought Memorandum seeking

assistance would be sent to Government

of India.

• Taking into account the indigent position

of the 9 agriculturists who committed

suicide, though not due to crop loss, Rs. 3

lakhs per family of the family of the

deceased shall be paid.

55

1.18.1 Action Taken on the Relief Measures

The Government have since sanctioned a

sum of Rs 541.50 crores vide G.O. (Ms) No.

48, Revenue [DM.3(1)] Department, dated

13.02.2013 to be paid as drought relief to the

farmers in the delta Districts. Subsequently the

State Relief Commissioner authorized the

Collectors to draw and disburse the amount to

the enumerated eligible farmers as drought

relief. Relief distribution has been completed

and Rs.524.25 crores have been disbursed to

3,52,613 farmers. The other line departments

were also asked to take up drought relief

works and to focus on employment

generation, drinking water and supply of

fodder.

56

Details of disbursement of relief to farmers: (Rs. in lakhs)

Sl.

No

Nam

e o

f th

e D

istr

ict

Are

a af

fect

ed

(in

acr

es)

Am

oun

t sa

nct

ion

ed

@ R

s.15

015/

-per

ac

re (

incl

usi

ve o

f se

rvic

e ch

arge

s of

Rs.

15/-

per

ac

re)

Am

oun

t cr

edit

ed t

o P

AC

Bs

Am

oun

t C

redi

ted

/ d

isb

urs

ed t

o Fa

rmer

s A

/c

No.

of

Farm

ers

ben

efit

ed

1 Cuddalore 12152 1824.62 1824.62 1782.74 8553

2 Tiruchirapalli 22447 3370.42 3370.42 3312.47 24974

3 Karur 395 59.31 59.31 59.25 304

4 Ariyalur 19054 2860.96 2860.96 2652.05 14368

5 Pudukkottai 19780 2969.97 2969.97 2967.00 19600

6 Thanjavur 12249 1839.19 1839.19 1837.32 10859

7 Nagapattinam 181312 27224.00 27224.00 25773.33 141322

8 Tiruvarur 93611 14055.69 14055.69 14041.65 132633

Total 361000 54204.16 54204.16 52425.81 352613

1.18.2 Sanction of works under SDRF:

As ordered in the G.O. (Ms) No.48,

Revenue [DM.3(1)] Department, dated

13.02.2013, proposals have been received

from Town Panchayat, Municipality and TWAD

Board at a cost of Rs.37.25 Crores. Further

proposals for supply of dry fodder at a cost of

57

Rs.15 Crores of the Animal Husbandry

Fisheries and Dairy department and for

sanction of Rs.15 crores for supply of

subsidized mineral mixture by Tamil Nadu Co-

operative Milk Producers Federation Limited

have been received. Sanction has been

accorded to the respective Departments by the

Relief Commissioner / Commissioner of

Revenue Administration.

Further, Drought Memorandum seeking

relief assistance of Rs.19,665.13 Crores has

been sent to Government of India.

1.18.3 Drought training programmes for revenue and line department officials

The Revenue department conducts

training programmes for the Government staff

to train them in handling all natural disasters

at the Anna Institute of Management. Due to

58

current drought situation, the Anna Institute of

Management has been asked to focus on the

subject of Drought and accordingly run an

exclusive training programme on drought

management and mitigation till the onset of

northeast monsoon 2013, for both revenue

and line department officials. It is proposed to

run training at Chennai and at regional centers

of Madurai, Salem and Coimbatore to have

larger spread and coverage.

1.18.4 Action Taken to Provide Relief Measures to Non-Delta Districts

In G.O.(Ms) No.46, Revenue [D.M.III(1)]

Department, dated 13.02.2013, Government

have issued orders for constituting the High

Level Committee under the Chairmanship of

Hon'ble Minister (Finance) to assess the

drought situation and to suggest suitable

remedial measures to the farmers of

59

Non-Delta Districts. The High Level

Committee has undertaken the field inspection

of Non-Delta Districts on 16.03.2013 in

Dindigul, Sivaganga and Ramanathapuram

Districts, on 17.03.2013 in Thoothukudi,

Virudhunagar and Madurai Districts on

22.03.2013 in Salem, Namakkal, Erode,

Tiruppur and Coimbatore Districts, on

11.04.2013 in Tirunelveli, Theni and

Pudukkottai Districts and on 12.04.2013 in

Karur, Perambalur, Dharmapuri and Krishnagiri

Districts. The High Level Committee has

submitted its report to Government on

19.04.2013. On the basis of the High Level

Committee's report the Hon'ble Chief Minister

has also announced various Relief measures

on the floor of the Assembly on 19.04.2013 to

the Non-Delta Districts except Chennai.

60

The following Relief assistance have been

announced to the farmers where more than

50% of the crop damages occurred: Sl. No.

Crops Relief Assistance (per acre)

No.of farmers

benefited

Extent covered in

acres

Total Relief

assistance given (Rs. in crores)

1 Paddy Rs.5,000/- 6,25,481 6,25,786 312.89

2 Other crops except Paddy, long term crops and mulberry under irrigation source

Rs.4,000/- 1,01,802 1,25,386 50.15

3 Other crops except Paddy, long term crops and mulberry under rainfed source

Rs.3,000/- 10,05,549 14,14,126 424.24

4 Long term crops including coconut

Rs.4,000/- 50,908 1,08,383 43.35

5 Mulberry for sericulture

Rs.3,000/- 10,602 15,262 4.58

Grand Total

17,94,342

22,88,943

835.21

61

Insurance companies shall pay the claim

amounts for the crop loss directly to the

Agriculturists who insured their crops.

To avert fodder scarcity in non-delta

Districts a scheme at a cost of Rs.6.25

crores on cultivation of green fodder and a

scheme at a cost of Rs.18.40 crores on

dry fodder totalling to a cost of Rs.24.65

crores shall be undertaken through Animal

Husbandry, Dairying and fisheries

Department.

The following schemes shall be

undertaken to tackle drinking water

scarcity in Non- Delta Districts through the

following departments/ undertakings:-

62

Sl.No. Departments/Under takings

Covered areas Amount (Rs. in crores)

1 Municipal Administration and Water Supply Department

Municipalities 40.00

2 Municipal Administration and Water Supply Department

Town Panchayats

20.00

3 Rural Development and Panchayat Raj Department

Village Panchayats

40.00

4 Chennai Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board

Chennai 25.00

5 Tamil Nadu Water Supply and Drainage Board

Non-Delta Districts except Chennai

20.00

Total 145.00

50,000 Farm ponds shall be formed

under MGNREGS through Rural

Development and Panchayat Raj

Department at a cost of Rs.750 crores in

the Non-Delta Districts.

63

In total, Hon'ble Chief Minister has

announced a sum of Rs.1754.86 crores to

Non-Delta Districts as relief assistance to

implement the relief measures.

Accordingly, orders have been issued by

the Government vide G.O.(Ms) No.123,

Revenue [D.M.3(1)] Department,

Dated:25.04.2013.

1.19 Coastal Disaster Risk Reduction Project (CDRRP)

In order to revive the livelihoods of the

people who were affected by the devastations

of Tsunami which struck the coastal Districts

of Tamil Nadu on 26.12.2004, the World Bank

funded a relief and rehabilitation project

named “Emergency Tsunami Reconstruction

Project” (ETRP) in May, 2005. There were

savings anticipated in the project, as the NGOs

64

came forward to support the Government

initiatives in a large way. Therefore, with a

view to utilize the savings, the ETRP was

restructured to include the reduction of

vulnerability of coastal communities. Though

there were some works pending, the ETRP

was closed on 31.12.2011. Simultaneously, all

the erstwhile ETRP are being continued under

State Fund vide G.O. Ms. No.179, Revenue

(DM 4.1) Department, dated 29.05.2012.

In order to take up risk reduction

initiatives, a new Coastal Disaster Risk

Reduction Project has been proposed. It shall

include new capacity building initiatives in risk

reduction / mitigation and the unfinished

works of ETRP. Accordingly the World Bank

has approved the project in principle which

has been provisionally named as “Coastal

Disaster Risk Reduction Project”. This

65

World Bank Project commences during this

current year and will be completed in five

years.

The first Preparation Mission of the

proposed Project was taken up between 19th

to 21st December 2012 by World Bank, which

also includes the establishment of the

executive office of the State Disaster

Management Authority headed by the Hon'ble

Chief Minister. Additionally it was decided to

take up the laying underground of electricity

cables of TANGEDCO in two of the most

vulnerable coastal Districts of Cuddalore and

Nagapattinam. The appraisal of the project

was held in March and the agreement with

World Bank is likely to be signed in June 2013.

66

2. LAND ADMINISTRATION

Revenue department is the custodian of

all Government lands. Land Administration

Department deals with the various important

Revenue subjects such as Assignment of

Cultivable land, Assignment of House site,

Land Lease, Land Alienation, Land Transfer,

Land Acquisition, Eviction of Encroachments

on Government lands and Cinematography Act

1955.

Commissionerate of Land Administration

administers all the Government lands of the

State Government. This department consists

of One Additional Commissioner, Two Joint

Commissioners and Five Assistant

Commissioners. At the district level, the lands

are administered by the District Revenue

Officers.

67

2.1 Patta Transfer

The Hon’ble Chief Minister has announced

in the Assembly on 10.6.2011 that the

procedure for patta transfer will be

streamlined to avoid delay and frequent visits

by the petitioners to the taluk offices. In this

regard, the Hon’ble Chief Minister also

announced that necessary changes will be

made in Revenue Standing Order 31(8), so

that the public grievances are addressed

promptly within a stipulated period. In

continuation of the announcement by the

Hon’ble Chief Minister, an amendment to

Revenue Standing Order 31 to enable Village

Administrative Officer to receive patta transfer

applications has also been issued in GO. (Ms)

No. 209, Revenue [SS-I(1)] Department,

dated 8.7.2011. Subsequently detailed

instructions to receive applications to pursue

68

action have also been issued in G.O. (Ms) No.

210, Revenue [SS-I(1)] Department, Dated

8.7.2011. Because of the issuance of these

Government Orders, the petitioners need to

pay sub-division fees only after orders are

passed by the Tahshildar in respect of patta

transfer. The unnecessary difficulties faced by

the public are thus avoided.

2.1(1) Salient features of the Government Order are as follows:- A. Cases not involving sub-divisions

On every Monday the public can give

application to the Village Administrative Officer

in his village and then get orders on 2nd

Friday at Taluk office from the concerned

Zonal Deputy Tahsildar.

69

B. Cases involving sub-divisions

The same procedure as outlined above will

be followed. However, since the Tahsildar has

to pass order in the cases involving

subdivisions, the petitioner will receive order

on the 4th Friday from the date of submission

of application. This work should be completed

within 30 days. The Applicant shall pay the

sub - division fee after receipt of the order

from the Tahsildar.

The Zonal Deputy Tahsildar and Revenue

Inspector shall visit villages every Monday and

Tuesday to see the progress of the work. The

Commissioner of Land Administration shall

review the work every fortnight.

70

C. Mode of scheme:-

1. The Village Administrative Officer Shall

receive applications in his village on

Mondays and on Tuesdays in the incharge

village.

2. In all Taluk Offices, every Friday is

observed as patta transfer day. The

Village Administrative officers and field

surveyors are fully engaged in this work.

3. Regarding patta transfer cases, the

procedure prevailed previously has been

simplified and a time limit has been fixed

for issue of patta transfer orders.

71

28,62,815 Patta Transfer applications have

been disposed off, out of which 24,15,610

Patta Transfers ordered upto 31.3.2013.

2.2 Assignment of Land

2.2.1 Assignment of House sites:

House site assignment is given as per the

provisions contained in RSO 21. Assignable

lands except objectionable porambokes such

as water course are assigned to the eligible

persons. Free House sites are assigned to

houseless people having an income below

Rs.30,000 in rural areas and Rs.50,000 in

urban areas. House sites are assigned in

favour of women member of family. As per

the existing rules, three cents in villages, one

and half cents in Municipal areas and one cent

in Corporation areas respectively are assigned.

72

House sites are assigned in the following

order of preference:

1. Families of Defence personnel, including

Border Security Force, Territorial Army

Personnel etc., killed in action or disabled.

2. Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribes.

3. Released Bonded Labourers.

4. Ex-Servicemen.

5. Landless Poor.

The Revenue Officers are delegated with

the following powers of monetary limits in the

assignment of house sites vide

G.O.(Ms)No.248, Revenue, dated 28.7.2009.

73

Sl.No OFFICERS MONETARY LIMIT (Rs.)

1 Tahsildar 30,000/-

2 Revenue Divisional Officer 50,000/-

3 District Revenue Officer 1,00,000/-

4 District Collector 4,00,000/-

5 Commissioner of Land Administration

5,00,000/-

6 Government Above 5,00,000/-

Government have decided to issue one

lakh house site pattas during the financial

year 2012-13 and 1,31,299 pattas were

issued upto 31.3.2013.

2.3 Land Acquisition

2.3.1 Land Acquisition Act ,1894 (Central Act, 1/1894) Central Act 1/1894 is being invoked for

acquisition of land for public purpose in

general. In this Act, the time prescribed for

completion of Land Acquisition proceedings

74

under ordinary clause is three years. In case

of acquisition of land for emergency purposes,

land acquisition work is completed in 180 days

invoking the urgency provision of section

17(1) and 17(2) of this Act. As per PERT

CHART, time limit is prescribed for each stage

of acquisition process.

The following special Acts have been

enacted to speed up the land acquisition

process initiated in cases where the lands are

acquired for Road improvement and Industrial

purposes.

1) Tamil Nadu Acquisition of land for Industrial Purposes Act 1997 (Act 10/1999) 2) Tamil Nadu Highways Act 2001 (Act 34/2002)

75

Tamil Nadu Acquisition of land for Harijan

Welfare Schemes Act 1978 (Act 31/1978) has

been enacted to implement the welfare

schemes of Adi-Dravidar and Tribal welfare.

2.3.2 Monetary Limit for Revenue Officials for approval of Award: Sl.NO. Officers Revised Monetary limit 1 Tahsildar/Special

Tahsildar Up to Rs.2,50,000/- (Rupees Two lakhs and fifty thousand only)

2. Revenue Divisional Officers/Officers in the grade of Deputy Collectors

Above Rs.2,50,000/- (Rupees Two lakhs and fifty thousand only) upto Rs.7,50,000/- (Rupees Seven Lakhs Fifty Thousand only)

3. Collector Above Rs.7,50,000/- Up to Rs. 50,00,000/- (Rupees Fifty lakhs only)

4 Commissioner of Land Administration

Above Rs.50,00,000/- (Rupees fifty Lakhs)

(As per G.O.(Ms) No. 12, Revenue Department, dated 7.1.2011.)

76

The acquisition proceedings initiated under

Land Acquisition Act is found to be time

consuming. Further the Civil Courts have

awarded higher compensation in many land

acquisition cases. In order to avoid such

contingency, acquisition through Private

negotiation was introduced in G.O. (Ms.)

No. 885, Revenue Department, dated 21.9.95

forming District Level Committee headed by

the Collector and State Level Committee

headed by the Commissioner of Land

Administration. The Government in G.O.(Ms.)

No.103, Revenue Department, dated

28.02.2011, prescribed monetary limit to the

committee for acquisition of land through

private negotiation.

77

1. District Level Committee headed by the

Collector to negotiate the price upto 150%

of the market value or Guide Line Rate

(GLR) value whichever is less and the

negotiated value shall not exceed Rupees

one crore.

2. Above one crore, but the negotiated value

is within 150% of market value or GLR

value which ever is less, the State Level

Committee headed by the Commissioner

of Land Administration is empowered to

approve the value.

3. If the negotiated value is above 150% of

the market value or GLR value

irrespective of total cost, the Government

shall pass orders.

78

2.3.3 Rehabilitation and Resettlement Policy Apart from awarding compensation to the

poor families who are affected by acquisition

of land, the Government is evolving a policy of

Rehabilitation and Resettlement to uplift their

livelihood and improve their standard of living.

2.4 Land Transfer

Government lands are transferred under

Revenue Standing Order 23 and 23(A) to

Central Government Departments and State

Government Departments on collection of land

cost / on free of cost respectively.

For the State Government Departments,

such as Health, Education, Transport excluding

the objectionable lands, i.e. Water-course

Porambokes, etc., the District Collectors are

empowered to allot minimum extent of land

without ceiling limit on land cost. For the

79

construction of Police Station, Police Quarters,

Police Training Centre and Parade Ground in

favour of the Police Department, Regional

Transport Office in favour of Transport

Department and for the requirement of other

needy State Government Departments, the

District Collectors are empowered to allot

minimum extent of lands.

The Departments concerned, to whom

land transfer has been made, have to

judiciously utilize the land for the purpose for

which it is transferred. Revenue Department

being the custodian of all Government lands

and the Government in Revenue reserves the

right to resume the unutilized lands.

When Meikkal or Manthaiveli poramboke

lands are involved in the proposal, an

alternate land equal in extent is identified and

the requisitioning Department should remit

80

development charges to Local Body

concerned @ Rs.6,000/- per Acre or

Rs.15,000/- per Hectare. The Local Body

should develop the above vested alternate

land and to permit the local cattle to graze on

the developed land. The above alternate land

will be under the supervision of the Revenue

Department.

2.5 Alienation of Land

Government lands are alienated under

Revenue Standing Order 24 to Local Bodies for

public purpose or to Government

Undertakings/ Corporations / Boards for the

implementation of their Projects, Universities,

Information Technology Parks, BSNL, and also

to Private Institutions, Companies and

individuals either as a Grant or Collection of

full or at a concessional value of the same. If

any of the conditions of Alienation is violated,

81

the alienated lands are liable to be

resumed by the Government, without any

compensation.

In view of public welfare, Government

lands are alienated to Tamil Nadu Water

Supply and Drainage Board and Chennai

Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage

Board on free of cost for the implementation

of Drinking Water Scheme Works in Local

Bodies and in Chennai City. Government lands

are alienated to Tamil Nadu Slum Clearance

Board for construction of tenements on free of

cost and if the lands are required for the

construction of office buildings and other

Buildings, Government lands are alienated to

Tamil Nadu Slum Clearance Board at a

nominal land value of Rs.5,000/- per ground.

Government lands are also alienated to

SIDCO /SIPCOT /TIDCO / ELCOT /TNEB Ltd/

82

TANGEDCO / TANTRANSCO / TNHB / Neyveli

Lignite Corporation, etc on collection of Single

Market Value subject to certain conditions.

2.6 Land Lease

Government lands and buildings are given

on lease for non-agricultural purpose in favour

of Associations, Companies, Private bodies

Individuals, Local bodies and Trusts under the

provision of Revenue Standing Order (RSO)

24A for a minimum period of 3 years to a

maximum of 20 years.

As per the orders of the Government at

present lease rent is collected @ 7% of the

land cost incase of non-commercial purpose

and @ 14% for commercial purpose.

The annual lease rent is revisable once in

3 years. In certain cases, nominal lease rent

83

and long term lease are also granted by the

Government in the interest of public.

2.6.1 Monetary Limit for Leasing of Land is fixed as detailed below:-

OFFICERS MONETARY LIMIT 1. Tahsildar NIL

2. Revenue Divisional Officer Up to Rs. 20,000

3. Collector/District Revenue Officer Up to Rs. 50,000

4. Commissioner of Land

Administration Up to Rs. 2,00,000

5. Government Above Rs. 2,00,000

(As per G.O.(Ms) No.60, Revenue Department, dated 6.2.1999)

2.7 Salt Land Lease

Salt land is being granted on lease for

manufacturing salt in the coastal areas as per

R.S.O. 24A.

84

In the state of Tamil Nadu lease rent and

royalty for manufacture of salt is fixed as

follows:-

1 Lease rent Rs.5/-per acre/per annum

2 Royalty Rs.2/-per metric tone of salt

produced subject to a

minimum of Rs.100/- per acre

/ per annum

3 Local cess 100% Rs.5/- per acre/per annum

4 Local cess surcharge

500%

Rs.25/- per acre / per annum

5 Total Rs.135/- per acre /per annum

The lease rent fixed by the Government is

very low compared with other States. About

27,777 acres of lands have been leased out for

salt production.

2.8 Eviction of Encroachments

Eviction of encroachments on the

Government lands is the prime duty of the

Revenue Department. To evict the

85

encroachers from the Government Lands, the

following Acts are enacted:

1. Tamil Nadu Land Encroachment Act, 1905.

2. Tamil Nadu District Municipalities Act, 1920. 3. Tamil Nadu Protection of Tanks and Eviction of

Encroachment Act, 2007. 4. Tamil Nadu Highways Act, 2001.

5. Tamil Nadu Panchayat Act, 1994.

6. Tamil Nadu Public Premises (Eviction of unauthorized occupation) Act, 1975.

7. Tamil Nadu Village Panchayat Act, 1958.

To protect the water course lands such as

Kulam, Kuttai, Odai, Channel and other

catchments areas and to avoid encroachments

on such lands, the Government in

G.O. (Ms) No.41, Revenue Department, dated

20.01.1987 have issued ban orders for

regularization of such encroachments. In

G.O. (Ms) No.186, Revenue Department,

86

dated 29.04.2003, detailed instructions were

issued to follow the above Government orders

scrupulously.

The High Court, Madras has also delivered

a judgment in W.P.No.20186/2000 to identify

such illegal encroachments on the water

course poramokes and to restore their original

position after eviction.

Accordingly, importance is given to evict

the encroachments in water bodies such as

Tanks, Rivers, Lakes, Ponds and other water

course porambokes in co-ordination with

Public Works Department and Police

Department.

To evict the encroachments on the

Government lands and to monitor the progress

of work, a Steering Committee at District level

and a High Level Committee at State level

have been constituted.

87

As regards the encroachments in

poramboke and other lands vested with the

Village Panchayat and Local bodies as per the

directions issued by the Hon’ble Supreme

Court of India in SLP No.3109/11 and

C.A.No.1132/2011, the Government is under

compulsory obligation to formulate an action

plan to find out and to evict the

encroachments in the poramboke and other

lands vested with the Village Panchayat and

local bodies for the betterment of the

community.

The encroachments on Government lands

were identified and evicted - the details are as

follows as on 31.03.2013:-

88

Total No.of Encroachments identified as on

01.04.2012

No. of Encroachments

Evicted upto 31.03.2013

SL.No

Classification

No. Extent (Acres)

No. Extent (Acres)

1 Water Course Porambokes

536945 109828 137507 21469

2 Mayanam, Mandaveli, Meikkal (AH)

77727 23102 7291 1630

3 Forest (Kadu)

21338 14851 901 665

4 Natham

32136 4398 6822 569

5 Road / Pathai etc.

85567 8213 29477 1997

6 Temple, Wakf Board etc. Religious Purpose

12092 1968 1855 134

7 Poramboke Land Vested With Local Bodies

66703 12435 5251 1069

8 Other Categories (Kallankuthu, Chavadi, Kalam, Thoppu etc.)

113838 43645 23359 4630

TOTAL

946346

218440

212463

32163

89

District Coimbatore Taluk Annur Village Annur

Mettupalayam

Classification Natham

S.No 493 Extent 2.50 Acres

Land Value Rs.2,17,80,000/-

Government Land Retrieval

90

91

District Kancheepuram Taluk Alandur Village Jameen

Pallavaram Classification Government

Proamboke S.No 13,77,78,22,

73,75 Extent 13 acres 48 cent

Land Value

Rs. 800 crores

Government Land Retrieval

92

93

2.9 RATIONALISATION OF MINOR IRRIGATION STATISTICS (R.M.I.S)

The Rationalisation of Minor Irrigation

Statistics scheme has been launched in order

to build up a comprehensive database in the

Minor Irrigation Sector. The Commissioner of

Land Administration has been nominated as

the Nodal Officer by the Government of Tamil

Nadu for the conduct of Minor Irrigation

Census in Tamil Nadu.

The scheme was launched with the

following objectives:

1. To organize on a quinquennial basis, a census of Minor Irrigation Projects.

2. To take up studies regarding

reconciliation of discrepancies in figures of area irrigated as reported in agricultural statistics and in periodical progress reports received from the State Government after getting the final report

94

on Fourth Minor Irrigation Census from the Government of India.

3. To organize and coordinate collection

and compilation of statistics relating to minor irrigation projects and their reporting on a regular quarterly and annual basis to the Government of India.

2.9.1 Fourth Minor Irrigation Census (2006-2007)

The Fourth Minor Irrigation Census was

conducted with the reference year 2006-2007

wherein the Groundwater Schemes and

Surface Water Schemes have been

enumerated. The details are given in the table.

95

Scheme-wise Data Details

Sl. No. Scheme

Number of

Schemes Percentage

(1) (2) (3) (4) GROUND WATER SCHEMES 1. Dug Well 15,89,216 83.10

2. Shallow Tube Well 1,16,479 6.09

3. Deep Tube Well 1,60,607 8.40 SURFACE WATER SCHEMES

4. Surface Flow Water Scheme 38,969 2.04

5. Surface Lift Water Scheme 6,999 0.37

Total 19,12,270 100.00 2.9.2 Fifth Minor Irrigation Census (2011-12)

The 5th Minor Irrigation Census with

reference year 2012-13 is proposed to

commence from the year 2013-14.

2.10 Tamil Nadu Cinema (Regulation) Act, 1955 & Rules, 1957

Grant of licence to private individual for

exhibition of films in cinema houses either

96

Touring, Permanent or semi-permanent is

being dealt with under the provision laid down

in (1) Cinematograph Act, 1952 (Central Act

XXXVII/1952) (2) Tamil Nadu Cinemas

(Regulation ) Act, 1955 (Act IX of 1955) and

(3) Tamil Nadu Cinemas (Regulation) Rules,

1957)

In the Districts (Mofussil), the Collector is

the Licensing Authority while the

Commissioner of Police is the "C" Form

Licensing Authority in Chennai City.

Total No. of Cinema Theatres in Tamil Nadu

1 Permanent Cinema Theatres 1002

2 Semi - Permanent Cinema Theatres

23

3 Touring Cinema Theatres 16

4 Open - Air - Cinema Theatres

05

Total 1046

97

3. LAND REFORMS

3.1 Land Ceiling The Tamil Nadu Land Reforms (Fixation

of Ceiling on Land) Act, 1961 (Tamil Nadu Act

58/1961) was enacted in pursuance of clauses

(b) and (c) of Article 39 of the Constitution of

India, to secure the distribution of ownership

and control of the material resources of the

community so that the operation of the

economic system does not result in the

concentration of wealth and means of

production to the common detriment.

Agricultural land ownership being a key

resource for economic progress of the

community it was necessary to reduce the

disparities in the ownership of agricultural

land, fix a ceiling on agricultural land holdings,

to acquire the excess land and distribute it to

98

the landless and others in the rural

community.

3.1.1 Ceiling

The Tamil Nadu Land Reforms [Fixation of

Ceiling on Land] Act, 1961 as amended from

time to time, has fixed the ceiling area as

follows: Sl.No. Category Extent allowed

1. Family

For a family consisting of 5 members (including Private Trust and Company)

15 standard

acres

i) Each additional Member of a family 5 standard acres

ii) Overall ceiling area 30 standard acres

In addition, each female member of the family can hold 10 standard acres of land as Stridhana in her name.

2. Public Trusts

a) Public Trust of Charitable nature which was in existence as on 1.3.1972

5 Standard acres

b) All Public Trusts are prohibited from acquiring agricultural lands after 1.3.72 and require permission to hold lands as per amended Act 29/87.

c) The Religious Trust of Public Nature, which was in existence before 1.3.1972 shall not come within the purview of the Land Ceiling Act.

99

3.1.2 Surplus Lands and Distribution The details of lands declared as surplus and the

area assigned and the cases pending in the Court

as on 31.3.2013 are as follows:

Sl. No

Particulars Area (in Acres)

1. Extent notified as surplus 2,08,452

2. Land assigned to the landless poor 1,90,713

3. Extent allotted for public purposes under Rule 13 of the Tamil Nadu Land Reforms (Disposal of Surplus Land) Rules, 1965

9,609

4. Lands assigned but under Court proceedings 8,130

Details of number of beneficiaries of the surplus land :

Category of beneficiaries

Number of persons

Extent assigned

(In Acres)

Scheduled Castes 66,782 71,881

Scheduled Tribes 240 322

Others 83,898 1,18,510

Total

1,50,920

1,90,713

Land reserved for public purpose

9,609

Grand Total

2,00,322

100

3.1.3 Concession to Industrial / Commercial undertakings The industrial or commercial undertakings

which acquire lands in excess of the ceiling

area are permitted to hold the excess lands

under Section 37-A of the Act by the

Government. As per the existing provisions of

the Act and the Rules framed thereunder, the

Undertakings should apply for permission to

the Government within 180 days either from

the notified date of amended rules or from the

date of purchase of such land.

3.1.4 Concession for Public Trusts

Government grants permission under

section 37-B of the Act to the Public Trust for

holding the lands acquired for educational or

hospital purpose. As per the existing

provisions of the Act and the Rules framed

thereunder, the Public Trust should apply for

101

permission to the Government within 180 days

either from the Notified date of amended rules

or from the date of purchase of land.

3.2 Revenue Courts

To deal with the cases of Tenancy Laws,

at present ten Revenue Courts are functioning

in the State at Cuddalore, Mayiladuthurai,

Tiruvarur, Thanjavur, Mannargudi,

Tiruchirappalli, Lalgudi, Nagapattinam,

Madurai, and Tirunelveli under the control of

Special Deputy Collectors.

3.2.1 Tenancy Laws

i) The Tamil Nadu Cultivating Tenants Protection Act, 1955 [Tamil Nadu Act 25/55]

This Act protects the interest of the

cultivating tenants, from eviction from the

lands, except for non-payment of lease rent or

102

doing any act of injurious or destructive to

the land or crops thereon, using the land for

any purpose other than agricultural or

horticultural purpose or wilfully denied the title

of the land owner to the land. The disputes

between the land owners and tenants are

settled by the Revenue Courts.

No. of cases as on 1.6.2011 was 1590.

Receipts were 683 till 31.03.2013. Disposal

upto 31.03.2013 has been 1254, leaving a

balance pending of 1019 as on 31.03.2013.

ii) The Tamil Nadu Cultivating Tenants

(Payment of Fair Rent) Act, 1956 [Tamil Nadu Act 24/56]

This Act provides for fixing fair rent at

25% of the gross produce by the cultivating

tenants to the landowners. The fair rent may

be paid either in cash or in kind. The

cultivating tenant shall bear all the cultivation

103

expenses and the landowner shall be

responsible for the payment of all dues

payable to Government in respect of the land.

All the disputes between the land owners and

tenants are settled by the Revenue Courts.

No. of cases as on 1.6.2011 was 289

Receipts were 402 till 31.03.2013. Disposal

upto 31.03.2013 has been 534 leaving a

balance pending of 157 as on 31.03.2013.

iii) The Tamil Nadu Public Trusts (Regulation and Administration of Agricultural Land) Act, 1961 [Tamil Nadu Act 57/61]

The Tamil Nadu Public Trust (Regulation

and Administration of Agricultural Land) Act,

provides for the exemption from the ceiling for

the Religious Trust of Public Nature, which

was in existence prior to 1.3.1972. However,

the Public Trusts are permitted to cultivate a

maximum of 20 standard acres under their

104

personal cultivation and the remaining extent

has to be let on lease. There are provisions in

this Act for regulating the relationship between

pubic trusts and their cultivating tenants as

well as for settlement of disputes by the

Revenue Courts.

No. of cases as on 1.6.2011 was 7630.

Receipts were 8,590 till 31.03.2013. Disposal

upto 31.03.2013 has been 7,043 leaving a

balance pending of 9,177 as on 31.03.2013.

iv) The Tamil Nadu Agricultural Lands

(Record of Tenancy Rights) Act,1969 [Tamil Nadu Act 10/69] The rights of the cultivating tenants are

protected under this Act by registering

themselves as cultivating tenants under this

Act. Under this Act, the Taluk Tahsildar acts as

the Record Officer. So far, 2,59,615 persons

105

have been registered as cultivating tenants

under this Act.

v) The Tamil Nadu Occupants of Kudiyiruppu

(Conferment of Ownership) Act, 1971 as amended

This Act provides for conferring ownership

rights to any agriculturist or agricultural

labourer who occupies the land as tenant or as

lessee. There is provision for extending the

benefits to rural artisans, who were occupying

the land with no house sites of their own. The

details of the total number of occupants who

were conferred ownership rights over

Kudiyiruppu as on 31.03.2013 are as under :

Sl.NO. Category

Total

1.

Scheduled Castes

1,01,333

2. Scheduled Tribes

2,746

3. Others

80,701

Total 1,84,780

106

3.2.2 Overall disposal and pendency in Revenue Courts All Revenue Courts and Acts put together,

there were 9,806 cases pending on 31.5.2011.

Following the announcement made in the

Revenue Demand in the Budget 2011-2012 in

respect of speedy disposal of cases pending

under various Tenancy Laws, 9,330 cases has

been disposed of during the period from

1.6.2011 to 31.03.2013 and the average

disposal has been 425 cases per month.

During the period 1.6.2011 to

31.03.2013, a further 10,045 cases have been

received, thus leaving pending cases as on

31.03.2013 at 10,521.

vi) The Tamil Nadu Agricultural Labourers Fair Wages Act, 1969

This Act provides for payment of fair

wages to agricultural labourers of

107

Nagapattinam and Tiruvarur Districts for

various types of agricultural works. In regard

to other Districts, the Minimum Wages Act is

being followed.

3.3 NEW INITIATIVES

3.3.1 Computerisation of Land Reforms

To know the status of all surplus lands,

public access to data of surplus land

assignees, linkage with Taluk office for better

land management and to NLRM and to send

all the particulars through e.mail and also for

web based ‘e-governance', provision of

networking and connectivity to sub-ordinate

offices and Headquarters Computerization in

Land Reforms is planned.

108

3.3.2 Management and Maintenance of Records

The records are maintained even from the

year 1961. Maintenance and management of

records to bring in a proper preservation,

retrieval, management - cum - maintenance of

records system is essential both in Districts

and headquarters.

3.3.3 System Improvement

For conducting review meetings and also

for imparting training, Screen with Projector is

planned for Headquarters.

These are all approved under Part II

schemes for the year 2013-2014.

3.4 Bhoodan Board

The Bhoodan Yagna Movement was

started by Sri Acharya Vinoba Bhave. Sri

Acharya Vinoba Bhave undertook Pada Yatra

109

to several Districts of Tamilnadu between

13.3.1956 and 18.4.1957 and received lands

as donation to the Bhoodan Yagna. To

regulate such lands received as donation, to

transfer the title of the lands to the name of

the Bhoodan Board and to distribute the lands

to the landless poor, ‘Tamilnadu Bhoodan

Yagna Act 1958’ was enacted and rules

framed thereunder.

In G.O.(Ms) No. 493, Revenue [LRI(1)]

Department, dated 23.12.2009, Tamil Nadu

Bhoodan Board has been reconstituted under

the Chairmanship of Hon’ble Minister for Khadi

and 14 other official and non-official members.

An extent of 28,050 acres has been

obtained as donation to the Bhoodan Board.

Out of which, an extent of 20,494 acres has

been distributed to the beneficiaries and the

110

remaining extent of 7,556 acres is covered

under litigation, registration, confirmation etc.

From 2012-13 the District Administration

has been fully linked with the Bhoodan work

and is being monitored from the Head

Quarters, resulting progress in pending and

continuous works of Bhoodan.

3.5 Chief Minister’s Farmers Security Scheme 2011

As per the Government in G.O.(Ms)

No.265, Revenue [LR I(2)] Department, dated

10.9.2011, the ‘Chief Minister’s Farmers

Security Scheme’ is implemented.

Under the scheme, the following financial

assistances are given:-

111

a) Farmer members

1) Marriage assistance

2) Temporary Incapacitation Pension 3) Old Age Pension

4) Natural death assistance

5) Accident relief

6) Funeral expenses

b) Dependent Family members

1) Educational Assistance

2) Grant to the orphan Children of the deceased farmer member who died due to HIV.

3) Marriage assistance

4) Funeral assistance

112

Salient Features

1. Maroon colour member Identity Cards are

provided to the members in the family

who are engaged in agriculture and the

works allied to agriculture. Grey colour

Identity Cards are provided to dependent

family members of the agriculturist. The

issue of Identity Cards to each and every

registered member of the family is a

unique feature of the scheme. This will

enable linkage with the UID No. when

assigned.

2. Under the scheme, paralysis has been

included in accident relief category and a

sum of Rs.50,000/- is given as assistance.

3. To avail the funeral expenses amount of

Rs.2,500/-, no death certificate is required

and the amount will be paid immediately.

113

4. Marriage assistance of Rs. 8,000/- is given

for men and Rs. 10,000/- for women.

5. The monthly Old Age Pension is Rs.1,000/-

and pension of Rs.1,000/- is given to the

farmer members during their temporary

incapacitation who is affected by Cancer,

T.B. and other terminal diseases.

6. Fine Arts, Teacher education and Nursing

has been included in this scheme for

educational assistance.

7. Educational assistance can be availed

under the scheme even if being obtained

under any other scheme.

8. Inland fishing is included as one of the

agriculture related activities.

9. This scheme is also applicable to the labourers working in plantations.

10. Identity Card being printed with ELCOT.

114

3.6 Hon’ble Chief Minister’s Announcements In Collectors’ Conference 2012-13 Announcement No.2542 B2

For temporary incapacitation on account

of HIV, Cancer, T.B., relief amount is given

under "Chief Minister's Uzhavar Pathukappu

Thittam as per orders issued in G.O.(Ms)

No.285, Revenue [L.R.1(2)] Department,

dated 6.8.12. This will be extended to those

who are undergoing dialysis.

Executive instructions have been issued to

all District Collectors for implementation.

Announcement No.2608 B2

Orphans whose parents died due to HIV

will be given monthly grant.

As per announcement, in G.O.(Ms) No.76,

Revenue Department, dated 12.3.2013

ordered to grant Rs.1,000/- to the orphan

children of the deceased farmer member who

115

died due to HIV / AIDS. In this regard,

Executive Instructions have been issued.

A sum of Rs. 617.20 crores allotted under

revised Budget Estimate 2011-12 for the new

scheme namely Chief Minister's Farmers

Security Scheme. From 10.9.2011 to

31.03.2012 a sum of Rs.598.87 crores has

been disbursed to 6,52,688 beneficiaries.

During the current year 2012-2013, a sum of

Rs.887.68 crores has been allotted in the

Revised Estimate 2012-2013. From 1.4.2012

to 31.3.2013, a sum of Rs.909.72 crores has

been disbursed to 11,82,649 beneficiaries

(including 7,92,605 pensioners and 3,90,044

other schemes) as detailed below:

116

Sl. No.

Details of Assistance Rupees in crores

1. Marriage of members 4.00

2. Marriage of children of the members

50.22

3. Education 62.10

4. Old Age Pension

695.77

5. Natural Death and Funeral

65.29

6. Accident Relief 32.34

Total 909.72*

* subject to reconciliation

From 10.9.2011 to 31.03.2013, the total

expenditure is Rs.1508.60 crores, covering

13,47,071 beneficiaries.

117

660.8

2

1508

.6

0

200

400

600

800

1000

1200

1400

1600

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PERI

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Rs. in Crores

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211

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118

119

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121

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050100

150

200

250

300

350

400

450

500

01.0

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01.0

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122

123

4. URBAN LAND CEILING AND URBAN LAND TAX

4.1 Tamil Nadu Urban Land (Ceiling & Regulation) Act, 1978 The Tamil Nadu Urban Land (Ceiling and

Regulation) Act, 1978 (Tamil Nadu Act 24 of

1978) was enacted with a view to re-

distributing the non agricultural lands

concentrated in the hands of a few people and

to bring the equitable distribution of urban

land. To achieve this objective, ceiling on

vacant land in the urban agglomerations of

Chennai, Madurai, Coimbatore, Tiruchirapalli,

Salem and Tirunelveli was introduced.

The Ceiling limit for the individual, family

and the industrial undertaking in each urban

agglomeration under the Tamil Nadu Urban

Land (Ceiling and Regulation) Act,1978 is

given below:

124

Individual Family Industrial

undertaking

Sl.

No

Urban

Agglomeration

Sq.mt. Sq.mt. Sq.mt

1 Chennai 500 2000 2000

2 Madurai,

Coimbatore,

Tiruchirapalli

& Salem

1500

3000

3000

3 Tirunelveli 2000 4000 4000

The Tamil Nadu Urban Land (Ceiling and

Regulation) Act, 1978 was repealed by the

Tamil Nadu Urban Land (Ceiling and

Regulation) Repeal Act, 1999 (Tamil Nadu Act

20/99) with effect from 16.6.1999. The

Repeal Act does not apply to the lands which

were already acquired and in possession with

the Government on the date of repeal.

The status of the land acquired under the

Tamil Nadu Urban Land (Ceiling and

Regulation) Act, 1978 is as follows:

125

Sl. No.

Details In Sq.mts.,

1 Extent of lands allotted to Government Department and Government undertakings

43,51,756

2 Extent of lands covered by Writ Petition

26,96,979

3 Extent of lands covered by Innocent purchase

23,95,785

4 Extent of lands encroached (Land owners & others)

72,69,355

5 Extent of Vacant land (without encroachment)

22,65,571

Total

1,89,79,446

4.2 Tamil Nadu Urban Land Tax Act, 1966, Amended Act, 1991 The Tamil Nadu Urban Land Tax was

introduced on 1.7.63 with the objective of

levying tax on the non agriculture urban lands

and to prevent the concentration of urban

lands with few people. The Act was made

applicable to Chennai City in the first instance

and later, extended to Trichy, Madurai, Salem

126

and Coimbatore Towns, Chennai City belt

areas, Tirunelveli Corporation and

Kancheepuram, Vellore, Cuddalore,

Villupuram, Thanjavur, Kumbakonam,

Mayiladuthurai, Pudukottai, Karaikudi, Karur,

Namakkal, Mettur, Erode, Dindigul, Palani,

Kodaikanal, Pollachi, Udumalpet, Tiruppur,

Thoothukudi, Rajapalayam, Uthagamandalam

and Nagercoil - totally 23 municipalities were

included under this Act.

(2) Urban Land Tax is levied on the basis

of market value as on 1.7.81 in all these areas

with effect from 1.7.91. The tax structure is

as follows:-

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Sl. No.

Chennai and other Urban Agglomeration

All urban lands in the Chennai City Belt Area

1. Up to 2 Grounds Nil Up to 3 Grounds

Nil

2. Exceeding 2 Grounds upto 5 grounds

0.7% of the market value

Exceeding 3 Grounds

upto 7 grounds

0.7% of the market value

3. Exceeding 5 Grounds upto 10 grounds

1% of the market value

Exceeding 7 Grounds

upto 10 grounds

1% of the market value

4. Exceeding 10 Grounds upto 20 grounds

1.5% of the market value

Exceeding 10 Grounds

upto 20 grounds

1.5% of the market value

5. Exceeding 20 Grounds

2% of the market value

Exceeding 20 Grounds

2% of the market value

(3) The following lands are exempted from

levy of Urban Land Tax under Section 29 of

the Act:-

(i) Lands owned by the Central and State Government and Local bodies.

(ii) Lands set apart for public worship.

(iii) Lands used for Hospitals approved by the State Government.

128

(iv) Lands used as burial Grounds.

(v) Lands used as roads.

(vi) Lands used by Schools, Colleges or Universities recognised by the Government of Tamil Nadu.

(vii) Lands used for Public Parks, Public Libraries and Museums.

(viii) Lands used for orphanages and for sheltering destitutes.

(4) The Government, under Section 27(1)

of the Act, may grant exemption from

payment of Urban Land Tax in respect of the

lands owned by charitable, religious,

philanthropic and other institutions, in cases

where the payment of Urban Land Tax causes

undue hardship to these institutions.

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(5) The Government have granted tax

concessions to the following institutions.

i) Industries having Small Scale Industries Certificate are granted 25% tax concessions while other industries are granted 10% concession;

ii) All Music and Drama Sabhas are granted 50% tax concession;

iii) Cinema Theatres are granted 10% concession;

iv) Lands notified as slums are granted full concessions and

v) A rebate of 50% of the tax is being given where there is a building on the lands wholly occupied by the owner for residential purposes only.

(6) In order to speed up the disposal of

appeals against assessment and levy of Urban

Land Tax and to provide relief to the public,

Government have appointed the District

Revenue Officers of the respective Districts as

Tribunals.

130

5. SURVEY AND SETTLEMENT This department has a history of more

than 150 years in cadastral survey using

Chains, Cross-staffs and Theodolites, from

the British period. With the advent of

digital technologies, this department is

switching to modern instruments both for

land survey and for mapping during the

past few years.

131

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132

133

5.1 Historical Facts about Land Survey

The first systematic survey of land and

settlement operations was done during the reign

of Raja Raja Chola I - Arul Moli Thevan of

Thanjavur (985-1011 A.D.). The Great

Trigonometrical Survey in India began in 1802

when William Lambton laid the baseline from St.

Thomas Mount 12 km to a hillock called

Perambauk (now called Perumbakkam near

Sholinganallur) to determine the length of a

degree of latitude along a longitude in the middle

of the sub-continent.

Tamil Nadu (then a part of the erstwhile

Madras Presidency) was the origin of the Great

Arc – the survey system of British India that

measured India from Cape Comorin

(Kanyakumari) to Kashmir. The world-famous

Great Trigonometrical Survey was commenced on

10th April 1802 with the measurements from St.

Thomas Mount to Perambuak Hill. It closed on the

same line after 62 years.

134

135

The First GT Station of India located at St. Thomas Mount near Chennai

Perumukkal GT Station on top of Mukhyaleswara Temple (in Tindivanam Taluk in Villupuram District)

136

137

5.2 Functions – as at present, at various levels The features of the present organizational

setup and functions of various levels of offices

of this department and the action pursued at

each of these levels for modernization in order

to bring-in transparency in process flow are

discussed in detail. Also, this gives an

overview of the survey schemes that are in

progress in this department.

The Commissioner of Survey and

Settlement being the Administrative Head of

the Department is the Apex authority in the

hierarchy for all activities – both for Survey

and Settlement Wings. The Additional Director

of Survey is the Technical head of Survey

wing.

138

139

State Level - Survey Organisation Chart

140

141

5.3 Two wings of this Department

This department comprises of two separate

Wings Viz., Survey Wing and Settlement Wing. The

Survey Wing, as the name implies, performs Survey

of lands and maintains land records. The Settlement

Wing takes care of the settlement activities like

recording ownership information, assessment of

land revenue, preparation of fair accounts, etc. The

records are then handed over to Taluk Office for

maintenance.

District, Regional, State Level Survey Offices

142

District Survey office which functions

under the control of Assistant Director of

Survey and Land Records in every District

comprises of an Administrative wing and a

Technical wing. Survey records are scrutinized

in Technical Wing and establishment matters

are dealt in Administrative Wing.

Regional Survey offices headed by a

Regional Deputy Director of Survey and Land

Records, available in Chennai, Madurai,

Coimbatore and Tiruchirapalli, have the

responsibility of guiding and controlling the

District Survey offices allocated to their

administrative control.

This Department has a training Institute at

Orthanadu in Thanjavur District. This is

headed by Principal / Joint Director Survey.

143

The Central Survey Office (CSO), headed

by Joint Director of Survey, situated in

Chennai, is the hub of all the mapping

activities in the department. All doubts in

mapping are referred to the CSO for

clarification. For implementing and monitoring

computerisation and survey schemes, a Joint

Director (Computerisation and Training) is

available in this Commissionerate.

5.4 Survey Section in Taluk Offices

Every Taluk Office has a Survey Section

which consists of a Deputy Inspector of

Survey, Sub-Inspectors of Survey, Firka

Surveyors, Field Assistants, Senior Draftsman

and Land Records Draftsman. This Survey

team maintains land records with reference to

the changes in land ownership, Sub-divisions

or clubbing of Survey fields, Classification of

land etc. Transfers of registry that do not

144

involve sub-division of land, i.e., mere change

in ownership are done by Revenue Section of

Taluk offices. These changes are approved at

Deputy Tahsildar’s level. Cases involving sub-

division are attended to by the staff of survey

section in Taluk offices. Changes involving

Sub-division of land are approved by

Tahsildar.

145

Given the above functional attributes of

various levels of this department’s offices, the

action plan for computerization has been

designed step by step ensuring

computerization of every process at every

level.

5.5 Taluk Level – Computerization

The basic land records pertaining to rural

areas, Viz. ‘A’ Register and Chitta have already

been computerized. Maintenance of land

records is being carried out using a software

developed by National Informatics Centre

called ‘TAMIL NILAM’ (Tamil Nadu Info-System

on Land Administration and Management) in

all the Taluk offices – except those in Chennai

District. Presently, land records are processed

in stand -alone manner – meaning: data

pertaining to each Taluk is processed in the

server available in the respective Taluk office.

146

At regular intervals, these data are uploaded

to the central server from which it is hosted at

the portal ‘http://eservices.tn.gov.in’ for public

viewing. Though due care has been taken to

ensure updation of data consistently, this is

only a stop-gap arrangement. Because, the

ultimate objective of computerization is to

ensure automatic online mutation of land

records through flow of data from Registration

department’s database. Therefore, by web-

enabling ‘Tamil Nilam’ software and by

designing the process flow with facility to fetch

Registration particulars automatically from the

Registration Department’s database, it has

been proposed to achieve the ultimate

objective of automatic online mutation of land

records. For this purpose, National Informatics

Centre (NIC) has furnished Software

Requirement Specifications (SRS) document.

147

After carefully examining workflow and

process re-engineering, Government’s

approval will be obtained for SRS and also for

pilot implementation.

5.6 Land Records Management Centres (LRMC)

Under the Centrally Sponsored Scheme

‘National Land Records Modernization

Programme (NLRMP)’ the Government of India

and Government of Tamil Nadu have

sanctioned (at 50:50 ratio) Rs.25.00 Lakhs per

Taluk for establishing LRMCs in 10 Taluks of

Kanchipuram District and 11 Taluks of

Tirunelveli District. As per the guidelines of

NLRMP for setting up Project Management

Units (PMU), the Government of Tamil Nadu

have constituted: (i) State Level Monitoring

Committee (SLMC) of NLRMP and (ii) NLRMP

Implementing Society of Tamil Nadu (NIST).

148

Further, as per the above guidelines the NIST

has been registered under the Tamil Nadu

Societies Registration Act, 1975 and the funds

sanctioned under NLRMP have been deposited

in the Savings Bank Account opened in the

name of NIST. Schemes under the National

Land Records Modernisation Programme will

henceforth be implemented under the

guidance of NIST and they will be monitored

by SLMC.

Accordingly, based on the resolutions

passed in the meeting of the NIST, funds have

been released to the District Collectors of

Kanchipuram and Tirunelveli Districts for

establishing LRMCs. The LRMCs will have

necessary infrastructures like storage area

with compactors; operational area with

Computers, Printers, Networking, etc and

Public Service area with arrangements for

149

reception and waiting hall facilities for the

public in every Taluk. After the inception of

LRMCs, Survey Section of Taluk offices will

start functioning in the LRMCs and all the

Survey related works will be carried out there.

Proposal seeking funds under NLRMP for

establishing LRMCs in more number of Taluk

Offices for the year 2013-2014 has been sent

to Government of India.

5.7 Computerization of Urban Land Records

So far only Land Records pertaining to

rural areas have been computerized. The land

records pertaining to urban areas

(Municipality, Corporation) are yet to be

computerized. Data entry of land records of

Chennai District is in progress using the

software developed by NIC. This software has

150

been designed to capture the data contained

in Town Survey Land Register (TSLR) format.

Further, in respect of the Municipal/

Corporation areas other than Chennai District

the software should also have facility to

incorporate the relevant land records details.

Hence, action is underway for fine-tuning the

software to include vital fields. After such re-

structuring, this software will be used for

computerizing the urban land records of rest

of the Districts also.

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Action Plan 2013

31%

Upto 2010 24%

URBAN LANDS (TSLR) DATA ENTRIES IN CHENNAI DISTRICT

152

153

5.8 Computerisation at District Level Under the Computerization of Land

Records Programme, Digitisation of Field

Measurement Sketches (FMS) is being carried

out using COLLABLAND software (developed

by NIC) in 29 District Survey Offices. A

Computer Cell with 20 computers and

accessories has been created in the District

Survey Offices for this purpose. So far, around

14 Lakh Field Measurement Sketches out of

around 53 Lakh Field Measurement Sketches

have been digitized. The digitized Field

Measurement Sketches will be integrated with

the ‘Tamil Nilam’ database (‘A’ Register and

Chitta) in Taluk Offices to facilitate issuance of

computer generated Field Measurement

Sketches along with Patta.

Computers have been also provided to

administrative wings of all the District Survey

154

Offices with a view of preparing them for

e-governance.

5.9 Sale of Computer generated maps at Regional Survey Offices Earlier, for getting village maps people

had to approach the Central Survey Office in

Chennai. In order to alleviate this hardship,

Computers and A0-size Multifunction Device

(Printer cum Scanner cum Copier) have been

provided to all the 4 Regional Survey Offices

for selling of Village / District maps to public at

the Regional Survey Offices.

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Town Survey

Municipal Towns • Total Municipalities : 125 • Survey completed : 98 (Traditional Method) • Survey in Progress : 8 (Modern Survey Method) • Balance to be Surveyed : 19

Corporations • Total Corporations : 10 • Survey completed : 2 (Traditional Method) • Survey in Progress : 6 (Modern Method) • Balance to be surveyed : 2

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5.10 Computerisation at State Level

The Primary responsibility of this

department is to ensure improving the quality

of service, accuracy in the land records, easy

to update and making the records user friendly

by improving transparency, efficiency and

accountability. In addition, it is also intended

to give the land owners the confidence that

their property details is safe and easily

accessible. This can be achieved only through

computerization of all the existing records and

also computerization of all the processes of

record making activities.

1) It provides transparency in maintaining land records and minimises scope for manipulation.

2) The land owners get their RoR

(Record of Right ) without any hassle, at less cost and without loss of time.

157

3) Easy to make changes in the records timely.

4) It is also a good source for revenue

earning for Government, and 5) It is an important step to promote

e-governance in Rural areas. All the modernisation projects are being

implemented from the Commissionerate of

Survey and Settlement. This office has

been fully computerized using the funds of

Computerisation of Land Records

Programme. Separate wooden cabins have

been provided to each dealing clerk and

Computer and accessories with internet

connectivity (TNSWAN) have been provided

to each clerk, Superintendent and Officer.

Centralized data storage and UPS facility

have also been created. Action has been

pursued through NIC to install Electronic

158

File Processing System (EFPS) to bring in

e-governance.

Further, action has been pursued for fully

computerizing the Central Survey Office

and the Regional Survey Office which

located within the Commissionerate’s

campus (‘Survey House’) in Chennai.

5.11 Scanning of old Records at the Central Survey Office

Old Survey records pertaining to cadastral

survey conducted many decades ago are

available at the State Archives. These records

are of various sizes (A0 to A4) and around 3

Crore sheets in number. These records are

very useful as back reference papers in land

disputes and litigations. Therefore, it has been

proposed to scan all these records and

preserve them in digital form. For performing

this work, a portion of the Central Survey

159

Office has been computerized using the funds

sanctioned by the Government of Tamil Nadu.

Computers and accessories, various types of

Scanners, Plotters, etc. have been provided to

the Central Survey Office. The work has

been commenced and an action plan will be

drawn for finishing it within a definite time-

frame.

Works so far completed

• All 32 District Maps Digitized

• 175 Taluk Maps out of 229 Taluks Digitized.

• All available Village Maps have been scanned and preserved.

Works to be completed

As the number of old land records to be

scanned are more than 3 crore sheets of old

FMS and MAPS, in order to complete the work

within a definite time-frame through

160

outsourcing, more funds have been sought

under NLRMP

5.12 Diploma in Geo-Informatics and Surveying Technology With a view of recruiting technically

qualified persons for the posts of Field

Surveyor and Draftsman by prescribing a

Diploma in Surveying as the basic qualification

for these posts, based on the announcement

made by the Honourable Minister for Revenue

on the floor of the Legislative Assembly, action

has been pursued through Commissioner of

Technical Education to commence a 3 year

‘Diploma in Geo-informatics and Surveying

Technology’ at Government Polytechnic in

Chennai and Tiruchirapalli.

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This Diploma Course will be commenced

after getting approval of All India Council for

Technical Education (AICTE).

5.13 Survey using Modern Survey Instruments In view of the complications involved, it has

been proposed to initially introduce modern

survey using Global Positioning Systems and

Electronic Total Stations in the newly created

municipal areas (i.e., rural areas that have

been upgraded as municipalities) for which

land records have to be prepared afresh by

adopting Town Survey System.

Modern Survey Scheme Offices have been

established in 8 Districts with all facilities like

Computers and accessories, GPS, Total

Stations, Plotters, etc.

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Preliminary work has been commenced in 8

newly created Municipalities so far.

Now, TNPSC has started allotting candidates

under Group-IV services, training for the

new recruits has been commenced. Survey

work will gain momentum once sufficient

number of field and technical staff are

engaged in the Modern Survey scheme

works.

Centre for Survey Training And Research

(CSTAR), is situated at the Anna University

campus in Chennai for providing advanced

training in survey using modern instruments.

So far 2500 employees of this department

have been trained here. Presently refresher

course for the field staff of this department is

in progress.

As per the announcement made by the

Honourable Minister for Revenue on the floor

163

of the Legislative Assembly, Modern Survey

using Global Positioning Systems and

Electronic Total Stations has been

commenced in Perambalur Town. Original

survey of the hill area Naraikinaru village,

Namakkal District has also been taken up.

The Tamil Nadu Survey Manual Volume-IV

– Fully Revised 2nd Edition – for modern

survey using GPS and ETS has been

published.

This Manual has been made available for

public sale also, in order to help the students

who are pursuing Diploma / Degree in Land

Surveying or Remote Sensing. Government’s

permission accorded in G.O.(Rt) No.129,

Revenue[SS-II(2)] Department, dated

08.06.2012.

164

165

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166

167

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168

169

In the Survey Training Institute at

Orathanadu, survey training is imparted to the

staff of Department of Survey and Settlement

and also to staff of various other Departments,

probationary IAS officers and Revenue

officers. This institute has been modernized

through installation of computers and

accessories and with the supply of Electronic

Total Stations using the funds sanctioned

under the Centrally Sponsored Scheme

‘Strengthening of Revenue Administration and

Updating of Land Records Programme’.

Under the National Land Records

Modernisation Programme (NLRMP) funds

have been sanctioned by the Government of

India for establishing NLRMP Training Cell /

Centre at the Survey Training Institute,

Orathanadu and for providing various modern

instruments. Action is being pursued for

170

providing all the items that have been

sanctioned to the Institute.

5.14 Schemes proposed to be implemented in Financial Year 2013-14 and their benefits 5.14.1 Implementation of web-based software for online management of Land Records in one Pilot Taluk each in 31 Districts

Benefits:

(1) All the land records will be brought

online. Taluk officials shall logon to

the Central Server using username

and password and process land

records through online mechanisms.

(2) Land owners can access the

particulars of the land through

internet.

171

(3) Whenever a transfer / sale of land

takes place, the details will

automatically flow from Registration

department’s database to the Central

Server and mutation of ownership

data will be carried out automatically

in cases not involving sub-division of

landed property.

(4) In respect of cases involving sub-

divisions, once the transfer / sale of

property takes place, the particulars

will be passed on to the Survey

section of Taluk Office and action will

be pursued within the time limit.

(5) The higher officers of the Survey and

Revenue Department can easily obtain

the pendency particulars of patta

transfer applications online and issue

172

instructions. This will help to check corrupt

practices.

(6) The software will have the provision

for consolidation of landholdings across

the State based on Unique ID cards like

Aadhar Card. This will help the

administrators to plan land reforms.

5.14.2 Setting up computer cell in 17 newly created Taluk Offices Benefits:

Computer and accessories will be provided to

the new Taluks recently created in the State.

So that, people residing in those Taluks can

easily get computerized land records.

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5.14.3 Creation of Land Records Management Centres in 32 Taluks of 5 Districts Benefits:

Land Records Management Centres will be

created in 32 Taluks of 5 Districts with

necessary infrastructures like storage area,

operational area and Public Service area with

arrangements for reception and waiting hall

facilities for the public in every Taluk.

5.14.4 Computerisation of Urban Land Records

Benefits:

(1) It has been proposed to computerize

the land records of urban area (i.e.,

Corporations and Municipalities) in

Financial Year 2013-14.

174

(2) The urban land records will then be

hosted online to facilitate online

management of urban land records

also.

(3) Subsequently, land owners can access

the particulars of the land through

internet.

5.14.5 Scanning of old Land Records available at the State Archives Benefits:

Century old survey records are available at

the State Archives. By scanning and preserving

them, essential records can be produced as

evidences when there are necessities like land

disputes, land grabbing, fake documents, etc.

175

Computerisation activities in progress at various levels and future plans: An Overview Level / Office

Purpose Present Status Future Plans

Maintenance of Land Records

Carried out using ‘Tamil Nilam’ software developed by National Informatics Centre.

Action is pursued for web-enabling Tamil Nilam Software.

Talu

k Le

vel

Land Records Management Centres (LRMC).

To be established in the Taluks of Kanchipuram and Tirunelveli Districts in Phase-I. Funds have been released to the District Collectors for site preparation

Funds will be sought under NLRMP for establishing LRMCs in more no. of Taluks in Phase-II.

Digitisation of Field Measurement Sketches (FMS).

Carried out using ‘COLLABLAND’ software of NIC. So far around 14 Lakh FMS out of around 53 Lakh FMS have been digitised.

The digitised Field Measurement Sketches will be integrated with the ‘Tamil Nilam’ database, to facilitate issuance of computer generated FMS along with Patta. D

istr

ict

Lev

el

Data entry of Urban Land Records

Work is in progress in Chennai District using the software developed by NIC. Since some important Columns regarding

More funds for the data entry of urban land records of the remaining Districts will be

176

Land Tenancy have to be included fine-tuning of the software is in progress. After fine-tuning, it will be used for data entry of urban land records of Kanchipuram and Tirunelveli Districts.

sought under NLRMP and the work will be extended to all the Districts.

Modern Survey using GPS and Electronic Total Stations

Town Survey using GPS and ETS is in progress in 8 Municipalities It is in progress as re-survey in Chennai, and Tiruppur Districts and in extended areas in Erode, Coimbatore, Madurai and Vellore.

Once the vacancies in the posts of Field Surveyor and Draftsman are filled-up, this work will be extended further.

Reg

iona

l Lev

el

Sale of Village maps

Computers, accessories and A0-size Multifunction Device have been provided to Regional Survey Offices for providing village / District maps.

Funds will be sought under NLRMP for upgrading them as Regional Training Centres.

Stat

e Le

vel

Web-based software for online management of land records

Software Requirement Specifications (SRS) document prepared by NIC is under examination.

Funds for this project will be sought from the Government of India under NLRMP.

177

Scanning of old records

The Central Survey Office, Chennai has been computerised and Scanning of old survey records is carried out there.

As the no. of records to be scanned are more (3 crores sheets) in order to complete the work within a definite time-frame through outsourcing, more funds will be sought under NLRMP.

Digitisation of Town and Block maps

Digitisation of Town and Block maps using private software is in progress at the Central Survey Office.

Digitisation of Town and Block maps using COLLABLAND software of NIC will be commenced on pilot basis.

Computerisation of the Directo rate

The Commissione rate of Survey and Settlement at ‘Survey House’ has been fully computerized with LAN and internet facility.

Electronic File Processing System to be introduced in the current year.

Tamil Nadu Wide Area Network (TNSWAN) Connecti vity

TNSWAN connectivity has been provided to 18 District Survey Offices, all the Regional Survey Offices and Central

Action is being pursued for providing TNSWAN Connectivity to all the remaining

178

Survey Office apart from this Commissionerate.

District Survey Offices within the current year.

NLRMP Training Cell

Action is underway for establishing NLRMP Training Cell at the Survey Training Institute, Orathanadu. The Department of Land Resources of Government of India has enlisted all the items to be supplied to NLRMP cell.

Centre for Survey Training And Research (CSTAR)

This has been situated at the Anna University campus in Chennai for providing advanced training in survey using modern instruments. So far 2500 employees of this department have been trained here. Presently, Refresher course for the field staff of this department is in progress.

Action is proposed to be pursued for imparting training in this Centre to the staff of other interested States also.

Trai

nin

g an

d C

apac

ity

Bui

ldin

g

Manual for Modern Survey

The Tamil Nadu Survey Manual Volume-IV – Fully Revised 2nd Edition – for modern survey using GPS and ETS

This Manual has been made available for public sale also, in order to help the students who

179

has been published. This provides comprehensive details about the Modern survey Instruments and the step by step procedures for conducting various types of land surveys.

are pursuing Diploma / Degree in Land Surveying or Remote Sensing. Government’s permission accorded in G.O. (Rt) No.129, Rev. [SS-II(2)] Department, dated: 08.06.2012).

180

5.15 Settlement

After Independence, a series of Land

Reforms Acts (given below) have been

enacted to abolish the intermediaries like

Zamindars/inamdars/ undertenurers, etc

between the Government and the ryots. Under

this ryotwari settlement, the assessment of

land tax is determined with reference to

composition of soil and other factors affecting

the fertility of the soil and then final title

conferred. In this scientific process, the

burden of land tax on the cultivators has come

down considerably after the introduction of the

ryotwari settlement.

1 THE TAMIL NADU ESTATE (ABOLITION & CONVERSION INTO RYOTWARI) ACT, 1948 (TAMIL NADU ACT XXVI/1948)

2 THE TAMIL NADU INAM ESTATES (ABOLITION AND CONVERSION INTO RYOTWARI) ACT,1963 (TAMIL NADU ACT 26 /1963)

181

3 THE TAMIL NADU LEASEHOLDS (ABOLITION AND CONVERSION INTO RYOTWARI) ACT, 1963 (TAMIL NADU ACT 27/1963)

4 THE TAMIL NADU MINOR INAM (ABOLITION AND CONVERSION INTO RYOTWARI) ACT, 1963 (TAMIL NADU ACT 30/1963)

5 THE TAMIL NADU GUDALUR JANMAM ESTATES (ABOLITION AND CONVERSION INTO RYOTWARI) ACT, 1969 (TAMIL NADU ACT 24/1969)

6 THE TAMIL NADU LEVY OF ASSESSMENT IN FREEHOLD LANDS ACT, 1973 (TAMIL NADU ACT 31/1973)

7 THE TAMIL NADU (TRANSFERRED TERRITORY) RYOTWARI SETTLEMENT ACT, 1964 (TAMIL NADU ACT 30/1964)

The work has been completed in all the

areas except in 10 Estates under Tamil Nadu

Act 26/1963, 5 villages under the Act 30/63.

Further, the work is in progress in Janmam

lands in The Nilgiris District under the

Act 24/69.

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5.16 Janmam Lands:

The Janmam Lands in Gudalur and

Pandalur Taluks of the Nilgiris District

belonged to Zamindari families of Nilambur

Kovilagam, Nelliyalam Janmy and

Naduvathamana Janmy of Kerala State. These

families held total extent of 80,087.74 Acres of

land. The Government introduced the Tamil

Nadu Gudalur Janmam Estates (Abolition &

Conversion into Ryotwari) Act 1969 (T.N.Act

24/69) to acquire the rights of janmies and the

Act came into force on 27.11.1974.

Till 1980, the settlement was introduced in

an extent of 28,087.03 acres. At this stage

the entire Act was challenged and finally

Honourable Supreme Court of India dismissed

all the appeals on 9.9.2010 and upheld the

inclusion of the Act in the 9th schedule to the

Constitution of India.

183

Following this, the Settlement officers

declared undeveloped lands as forest, ordered

to resume the lease expired lands to

Government.

The details of the settled area are as follows:

Sl.No. Particulars Area (in

Acres) 1. Total Janmam Lands 80,087.74 2. Initially settled 28,087.03 3. Declared as forest

under section 53 17,014.43

4. Balance area to be settled

34,986.28

184

185

TOTA

L JA

NMAM

LAN

DS

3498

6.28

1701

4.43

2808

7.03

Initi

ally

Settl

ed A

rea

Unse

ttled

Are

aFo

rest

Are

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186

187

Out of the 17,014.43 acres declared as

“Forest” under this Act, 5809.96 acres are

covered by Court cases and 11,204.47 acres

have been handed over to the Forest

Department as per G.O. (Ms) No. 363

Revenue [SS-I(1)] Department, Dated

28.11.2011.

The settlement process on remaining

Janmam lands could be concluded soon on

framing rules to Section 17 of the Act and on

delegation of powers of the Commissioner of

Survey and Settlement to the Settlement

Officer, Gudalur Janmam Lands.

5.17 Natham and Revenue Follow Up Works Apart from these works, Natham

settlement in village sites, Revenue Follow up

work in Hill villages, Revenue Follow up work

in Municipal Towns/Corporations, Survey of

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Wakf properties are also performed by this

Department. In the year 2012-13, 63,929

pattas have been issued under Natham

Settlement and Revenue Follow up work in

Towns and Corporations.

Further 54 Tahsildar posts have been

sanctioned in G.O. (D) No. 370, Revenue

Department, Dated 26.12.2012 to commence

new Units for performing Revenue Follow up

work in Towns and Corporations including

Natham Settlement work to be carried out in

Chennai District.

Therefore, altogether 78 units are

performing the Revenue Follow up works in

Towns/Corporation and Natham areas. Action

plan has been drawn-up to issue 5,30,000

pattas during the Financial Year 2013-2014.

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5.17.1 Issue of Natham Patta in 31 added villages in Chennai District

During Budget session 2012-13, Hon'ble

Minister for Revenue has made an

Announcement that about 15,000 Pattas

(approx) would be issued to land holders in 31

added villages of Chennai District where

Natham Lands are found, after completion of

Settlement work.

In pursuance to the above announcement,

the Government in G.O (Ms) No.192, Revenue

[SS2(1)] dated 8.6.2012, have instructed the

Principal Secretary/Commissioner of Survey

and Settlement to complete the issuance of

15,000 patta to land owners in Natham areas

of 31 added villages of Chennai District on or

before 31.12.2012.

Accordingly, action was taken to complete

the settlement work after field inspection and

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verification of document by 5 Taluk Tahsildars

of Chennai District. It was found only 12,650

holdings are in the Natham areas in 5 Taluks

altogether.

Of the above, Settlement work has been

completed for 8,383 holdings and 2,657 pattas

were distributed to the beneficiaries by the

Hon'ble Minister for Revenue on 26.4.2013 as

detailed below:

Sl.No Taluk No. of Pattas Distributed

1 Fort-Tondiarpet 346

2 Perambur-Purasaivakkam 990

3 Egmore-Nungambakkam 361

4 Mylapore-Triplicane 379

5 Mambalam-Guindy 581

Total 2,657

Action is being taken to complete the

Settlement work and to issue balance Pattas

to beneficiaries expeditiously.

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Conclusion:

Revenue department is the parent of all

departments. Survey and Settlement is the

back bone of this department. The prime

responsibility of this department is to ensure

accurate and scientific measurement of land

and maintain land records in a transparent

manner to give confidence to the land owners

that their property is safe, changes are carried

out with honesty and the records are easily

accessible. Therefore, it is through the

Revenue Department that the fundamental

right of an individual or family is established

and enjoyed with freedom.

The Revenue Department that has been at

the centre of administration continues to

provide a highly responsive and efficient

administration, delivery of need-based services

and schemes of relevance to daily life, better

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implementation for the benefits to reach the

beneficiaries, creating necessary infrastructure

with a better space for public interaction,

improved work environment, provision of

latest equipment and training to enable

quicker response, protecting the rights of the

community, delivering the rights to a most

valued resource - the land, and above all

providing succour and assistance in the event

of natural calamities.

Thoppu N.D. Venkatachalam Minister for Revenue