Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has sounded the alarm on rampant corruption in the land patta distribution system, ordering a zero-tolerance policy against those taking bribes for leases. The announcement, made during a review meeting with top bureaucrats, underscores the administration’s resolve to dismantle networks preying on vulnerable sections of society.
Reports of touts charging exorbitant fees – sometimes running into lakhs – for processing simple patta applications have flooded government helplines and district offices. These scams not only delay legitimate claims but also push marginal farmers deeper into debt, as they borrow money to pay the illicit demands.
‘This is a direct assault on our government’s pro-poor policies,’ CM Yogi remarked, vowing comprehensive probes and exemplary punishment. He directed the formation of vigilance squads in every tehsil to scrutinize pending applications and weed out fraudulent ones. Revenue police will be empowered to conduct raids and seize assets linked to the racket.
The state plans to introduce an online portal for patta applications, complete with real-time tracking and AI-based anomaly detection, to prevent future malpractices. Training programs for block-level officers will focus on ethical practices and grievance redressal.
Yogi’s intervention aligns with his ongoing war against mafias, from sand to land. Early impacts are already visible in districts like Gorakhpur and Varanasi, where drives have recovered encroached land worth crores. With elections on the horizon, this initiative could bolster the BJP’s image as a champion of clean governance in UP.