The Hindu carried an interesting article in the paper quoting Revenue Minister R. Ashok has said, in a few years, the government will find it difficult to get land for public works. He was responding to a question by BJP member Y.A. Narayanaswamy in the Legislative Council on December 15.

The Minister said his department had been recovering government land that has been encroached upon. The land recovered would be utilised for building schools, hospitals, anganwadi centres and other public utilities. He also said

“I am writing to legislators to make use of government land for such purposes. In a few years, it would be difficult to get land for public works. The government would have to purchase land paying a high price.”  

It is absolutely imperative that the government recover encroached land while also ensuring rightful landowners’ rights are recorded. This is the matter my family has been fighting for.

Regarding the issue of our land registration that has been pending for over 25 years, I talked to a senior #IASofficer asking for inputs. His advice was succinct – get a good local lawyer who can advance the matter and address it with local officials.

I have been pursuing this for the past few months through the lawyer. The local officials seem to be delaying the matter for several reasons  

• High volume of cases pending review
• Officials being transferred in or out
• Officials assigned to other pressing duties like local elections
• A few others with pending matters offering "gifts" to prioritize their review ahead of others
• Other sundry reasons 

This is why I am hoping that the #petition and a “word” from the minister or senior officials will help speed up the matter.