Large-scale land recovery, action against illegal mining, and resolution of over 20,000 revenue cases within a year were key achievements highlighted at the Gujarat government’s ‘Chintan Shibir’. Anil Ranavasiya, the Junagadh Collector, presented the administrative performance in Saurashtra and Kutch, emphasizing transparency and legal compliance in service delivery. Notably, encroachments threatening public safety were eliminated, leading to the recovery of government land valued at around Rs 2,325 crore.
Over the past two years, efforts like ‘Sarpanch Samvad’ facilitated the clearance of 37 hectares of land worth Rs 20 crore from encroachments, alongside the identification of historical Harappan-era sites and allocation of land for ponds and sports grounds. Enforcement actions in Surendranagar district resulted in the seizure of 15,000 metric tonnes of illegally mined coal and the liberation of 2,976 acres of land, utilizing various legal provisions to combat illegal mining effectively. The use of technology, such as the PM Gati Shakti portal and GIS in Jamnagar, aimed to enhance accuracy in land-related matters.
In Central Gujarat, Vadodara Collector Anil Dhameliya highlighted administrative reforms that streamlined land acquisition processes and resolved pending issues, leading to the disposal of approximately 20,000 revenue cases within a year. Anand district’s innovative use of QR codes for public feedback collection and direct engagement through gram sabhas improved communication with residents and service delivery. Discussions at the Shibir underscored the importance of expediting land-related case resolutions, farmer verifications, and legal hearings to enhance revenue services’ efficiency and transparency.
