First-ever revenue survey in Naxal-hit Abujhmad begins

The Chhattisgarh government has started revenue survey exercise to compile record of land holdings in the worst Naxal-affected Abujhmad region in Narayanpur district for the first time since Independence.

The survey will benefit a population of at least 35,000, mainly tribals, residing in around 237 villages of Abujhmad to get patta (title deed) for the land they were possessing.

"The state's revenue department in association with Indian Institute of Technology, Roorkee had last week started the ground survey of Abhujmad to ascertain land records," Narayanpur Collector T S Sonwani said on Sunday.

This un-surveyed region has around 36 village panchayats, wherein 207 villages are populated while 30 others are deserted, he added.

The thickly forested area of Abujhmad falls in the state’s Bastar division and located around 350 km from capital Raipur in the south.

"The aerial survey of the region, however, was done in the recent years but the ground survey is being done for the first time since Independence," the collector said.

The findings of the aerial survey would be ‘corroborated’ during the field survey for deciding ownership and boundaries of a land, he added.

According to sources in the revenue department, strategies were devised to survey Abujhmad for land records in the past but were abandoned after finding it nearly impossible due to security reasons.

Spread over about 4,000 sq km, Abujhmad is said to be a stronghold of the outlawed Communist Party of India-Maoist that reportedly runs training camps for their guerrilla cadres there.

Besides, the forests also reportedly serve as a hideout for senior Maoist leaders and with Naxals dominating the area, the ground survey was always considered a tough assignment.

The rebels' activities have declined in the recent couple of years in the area due to increasing pressure of search operations by security forces and development works being carried out in the region, said the official.

The collector further said, the maps of the forest and farm land were prepared based on the photographs taken during the aerial survey conducted earlier with the support of IIT Roorkee and added 'on the basis of its findings, the ground survey is being done'.

Briefing about the survey, he said, it is completely technology based survey under which measurement of the land is being done through a GPS device.

The villagers were told to provide complete information about the land they were holding in the village to the survey team so that they can be provided patta (title deed) for it.

Besides, they have also been asked to identify and demarcate land separately for setting up school, anganwadi centres, gram panchayat building, community building, sub-health centres etc in their villages, he added.

After completing the survey process and settling the claims and objections, the villages will be given permanent title deeds which will also help them to acquire bank loan and others benefits, he added.

"The completion of survey is largely dependent on security arrangements. In several villages of Abujhmad, it is not possible to enter without security cover. Hence, it is not possible to predict when the process will be completed," the collector said.

The survey of one village -- Akabeda where collector Sonwani and Narayanpur Superintendent of Police Santosh Singh had launched the survey last week, has been completed.

The SP said, "Presently, the survey is being conducted in the villages located close to security camps and eventually it will be carried out in the interiors."

He assured of providing adequate security cover to the survey team.

Image for representation only. Photograph: Reuters