THEBUSINESSBYTES
BUREAU
BHUBANESWAR,
JANUARY 19, 2026
In a decisive step towards modernising
land administration and accelerating development, the Odisha government is
preparing to introduce a transformative new law that promises to reshape the
management of government land across the state.
Revenue and Disaster Management
Minister Suresh Kumar Pujari announced that a draft of the Odisha Government
Land Management Act has been finalised and will soon be placed before the
Cabinet for consideration.
The proposed legislation seeks to
consolidate and replace multiple outdated revenue laws with a single,
comprehensive legal framework, aimed at ensuring more efficient and transparent
utilisation of government land for public welfare and development initiatives.
By bringing clarity and cohesion to land governance, the government hopes to
remove long-standing procedural bottlenecks and align land use with the state’s
evolving economic and social priorities.
Minister Pujari underscored that the
drafting of the Act followed an exhaustive and inclusive process. The exercise
involved detailed consultations with revenue experts, senior officials
including the Revenue Commissioner, the Additional Chief Secretary (Revenue and
Development) and the Law Secretary, along with specialised legal practitioners
well-versed in revenue matters. Inputs from District Collectors were also
incorporated to address on-ground realities and practical challenges faced in
land administration.
Following in-principle approval from
the Revenue Department, the draft legislation will be submitted to the state
Cabinet for final clearance. The government plans to table the Bill in the
upcoming session of the Odisha Legislative Assembly.
Once enacted, the new law is expected
to streamline administrative procedures, reduce legal ambiguities and enable
faster execution of infrastructure and welfare projects, marking a significant
stride towards more responsive and development-oriented land governance in
Odisha.