Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath’s latest salvo targets a pernicious form of graft: demanding money for issuing land pattas. In no uncertain terms, he has mandated stringent measures against perpetrators, signaling the end of impunity for land revenue scammers plaguing Uttar Pradesh.
The issue gained urgency after audits revealed thousands of stalled applications mired in bribery allegations. Poor artisans, laborers, and smallholders – the intended recipients of schemes like PM Awas Yojana-linked pattas – are often coerced into paying ‘speed money’ to expedite their files.
At the meeting, the CM laid out a multi-pronged strategy: immediate suspension of suspected lekhpals and naib tehsildars, FIRs under the Prevention of Corruption Act, and public shaming via district websites. He also announced incentives for whistleblowers, including cash rewards up to Rs 1 lakh for credible tips leading to convictions.
To future-proof the system, Yogi pushed for blockchain integration in land records, ensuring tamper-proof documentation. Gram panchayats will play a watchdog role, verifying applicant credentials at the grassroots level.
This directive revives momentum from Operation Clean Land, which has bulldozed illegal structures and redistributed land to the needy. Experts predict a surge in patta issuances post-crackdown, potentially covering over 5 lakh pending cases statewide. The CM concluded with a rallying cry: ‘Land for the landless, not for the lawless.’