By Neeraj Kumar
Patna: Amidst a surge in land disputes across Bihar, Patna District Magistrate (DM) Dr Chandrashekhar Singh has introduced a comprehensive plan to tackle the issue effectively. In a meeting held on Thursday, the DM and the Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) assigned new responsibilities to police station in-charges and Circle Officers (COs) within the district.
To ensure swift resolution of land disputes, Dr Singh has mandated that complaints from affected parties must be heard every Saturday.
Joint Efforts to Prevent Escalation
During a review meeting focused on resolving land disputes and maintaining law and order, the DM emphasised that no land dispute case should escalate into a law-and-order problem. A joint meeting of Zonal Officers and police station in-charges will now be held every Saturday to address such issues. The minutes of these meetings must be uploaded to the Bhu-Samadhan portal to ensure transparency and accountability.
The DM directed that serious land dispute cases be entered into a Land Dispute Register and resolved with top priority. Legal action has been advised against land mafias, liquor mafias, and sand mafias operating in the district.
“It is not enough to merely address public grievances. Transparency, accountability, sensitivity, and public satisfaction are essential for effective governance,” Dr Singh stated.
Crackdown on Illegal Activities
The DM also ordered strict action against illegal operations, including unlicensed brick kilns. An FIR has been lodged against 43 brick kiln owners who failed to pay royalties during the 2023–24 brick season. The District Mining Officer has been tasked with preparing a detailed list of these offenders, categorised station-wise, zone-wise, and sub-division-wise. This information is to be shared with the respective police station in-charges, zonal officers, and sub-divisional officers for further action.
Call for Coordination
Dr Singh urged meaningful collaboration and dialogue among all stakeholders involved in land dispute resolution and law enforcement. The comprehensive strategy aims to not only resolve disputes effectively but also prevent them from disrupting public order while ensuring transparency and public trust.
