In a significant move towards empowering citizens and restoring faith in land governance, the Telangana Government has launched the Bhumata Portal, a revolutionary replacement for the previously contentious Dharani Portal. This step marks a new chapter in the state’s efforts to reform its land records system—enhancing transparency, public participation, and accountability.
This is the right time (as Telangana is in active revision and restructuring of its RoR Act); the State needs a Bhumata Portal that will complete the dream of the Telangana farmers. Making the draft bill published on the Chief Commissioner of Land Administration (CCLA) website allows the general population to get involved with the legislative process. People are urged to give recommendations and participate in discussions and the reforms are intended to echo the needs and rights of citizens.
This blog tells you all you need to know about the Bhumata Portal, the Dharani alternative, how the people were engaged in developing the new land laws themselves, and the massive game-changer Bhudhaar system.
What is the Bhumata Portal?
The new integrated land registration, and management portal (the Bhumata portal) in Telangana is expected to ease the process of property transactions and document land ownership rights. It is initiated by the state government of which the Congress leads in 2024, as it was a solution to long-term problems posed by the Dharani portal, which was implemented in 2020.
This user-friendly platform ensures:
- Transparent land registrations
- Error-free mutations
- Quick inheritance transfers
- Real-time updates
- And most importantly: Direct citizen involvement in shaping land policies.
The portal supports both online services and offline assistance via MeeSeva centers—making land registration inclusive and accessible.
From Dharani to Bhumata: Why the Shift?
Legacy of Dharani (2020)
The Dharani portal, though well-intentioned, was marred by:
- Opaque processes
- Widespread errors in land data
- Loss of land rights by poor farmers
- Survey numbers missing or incorrectly mapped
- No alerts to MROs or Collectors
- Expensive, delayed mutation processes
- Inheritance transfers riddled with bribes and bottlenecks
- Non-agricultural land in villages excluded from documentation
This led to public frustration, legal chaos, and even financial distress among Telangana’s farmers and landowners.
Vision Behind Bhumata
Launched in 2024 under the Congress Government, the Bhumata Portal was built to:
- Restore land rights lost during the Dharani era
- Introduce technologically backed transparency
- Empower landowners with access and control
- Facilitate real-time dispute redressal
- Allow public participation in land reform legislation
The Bhumata system, coupled with the new RoR draft bill, signifies transformational land governance.
Key Differences Between Bhumata and Dharani Portals
| Feature | Dharani Portal (Old) | Bhumata Portal (New) |
| Support for Poor Farmers | Weak; many lost ownership | Strong; re-secures lost land rights |
| Data Accuracy | Missing or incorrect survey numbers | Corrected via live satellite-based surveys |
| Inheritance Transfer | Required payments and bribes | Completely free and automated |
| Village House Documentation | Not included | Now included for all rural properties |
| Land Ownership Limit | Poor enforcement | Strictly enforced (max 50 acres/person) |
| Government Land Allocation | Difficult and opaque | Now allocated to landless poor |
| Mutations and Corrections | Complex and delayed | Easy online submissions from home |
| Public Transparency | Low | High; full data access via portal |
| Bribe/Corruption Scope | High | Significantly reduced due to online processing |
Introducing the Bhudhaar System: Land’s Own Aadhaar
One of the most critical components of the Bhumata initiative is the Bhudhaar System. Much like Aadhaar for individuals, Bhudhaar is a unique identification number for every parcel of land.
Key Features of Bhudhaar:
- Unique ID for each plot, determined by geo-coordinates (latitude & longitude)
- Shape of land digitally mapped using corner points
- Linked with Record of Rights (1B)
- A Bhudhaar Card will be issued to each landowner or “Pattadar”
- A single card can be issued for multiple plots owned by the same individual
- Temporary & permanent IDs issued depending on ownership type (government, endowment, community)
The idea is to eliminate duplicate records, fake ownership, and land grabbing.
Public Participation in Telangana’s New Land Reform Bill
In a powerful push towards democratic policymaking, the Telangana government has made the draft RoR bill publicly available for review on the CCLA website:
Visit: www.ccla.telangana.gov.in
Submit suggestions via:
- Email: ror2024-rev@telangana.gov.in
- Post: Land Legal Cell, Chief Commissioner of Land Administration office (CCLA), Nampally Station Road, Opposite Annapurna Hotel, Abids, Hyderabad.
Consultation Open: August 2 to August 23
This inclusive process allows farmers, landowners, civil society, and legal experts to shape the final legislation. The government’s intention is clear—put the people first in land policy.
How Bhumata Portal Works: Step-by-Step Overview
The Bhumata Portal is a government digital service aimed at simplifying the land registration, property mutation, and related administrative processes in Telangana. Here’s a clear and expanded guide on how the portal works:
1. Registration and Log-In
To start using the Bhumata Portal, users must first register:
- Account Creation: You can register with your aadhaar number or mobile number or MeeSeva user (only in case you used MeeSeva services previously).
- OTP Verification: When it gets your details, an OTP (One-Time Password) will be sent to your phone to do identity verification.
- Login Access: Upon verification you will have access to your own dashboard on the Bhumata Portal, where you are able to manage land records, make service requests and check the status of your applications.
No need to stand in long queues anymore—everything is available online, 24/7.
2. Slot Booking for Land Registration
This is one of the most useful features for those buying or registering land or property:
- Book an Appointment: You have the choice of booking your date and time visiting the sub-registrar office.
- Select Office: One is allowed to choose the closest or applicable sub-registrar office where your property is situated.
- Instant Confirmation: Your place will soon be booked through SMS and email confirmations right after your slot was booked and you can never miss an appointment.
Fee at MeeSeva Centers:
- ₹200 per registration transaction. This fee includes 10 printouts of documents.
- If you need more than 10, each additional printout is ₹5.
Transparent and fixed pricing avoids hidden costs or unofficial charges.
3. Stamp Duty & Charges
Paying registration fees and stamp duties has never been easier:
- Online Payments: You can pay all registration-related charges securely online using UPI, debit card, net banking, etc.
- Receipts Available Instantly: Once payment is done, you’ll get a digital receipt to download and print for your records.
- No Need for Cash: This eliminates the risk of bribery or cash misuse—making the process cleaner and safer.
Everything is recorded and verified through official channels.
4. Mutations, Corrections & Inheritance
The Bhumata portal also handles post-registration services without you having to visit any office:
- Mutation Requests: You can apply for ownership transfer after sale, gift, or inheritance.
- Name Changes: Easily submit corrections if your name is spelled wrong in any land record.
- Inheritance Applications: When a property is passed on after a family member’s death, you can submit succession/inheritance requests directly from home.
- Corrections in RoR / Survey Maps: If there are errors in land area, boundaries, or ownership on record, submit a correction request through the portal.
This helps avoid middlemen and speeds up corrections and updates.
5. Bhudhaar Card Download
Once your application—be it registration, mutation, or correction—is approved:
- Bhudhaar Card Issued: A unique Bhudhaar ID is generated for your land parcel. This is like an Aadhaar for your land.
- Download or Print: You can easily download the digital Bhudhaar Card from the portal and print it for personal or legal use.
No more waiting for documents by post. Everything is online and instant.
Key Features That Make Bhumata a Gamechanger
- Simplified Interface: The Bhumata Portal offers just six modules (vs. Dharani’s 33), making it easier for users—especially farmers with minimal digital literacy.
- Real-Time Updates: Citizens receive SMS alerts at every step—ensuring transparency and peace of mind.
- Accessible for All: Even those without internet access can use MeeSeva centers for all services at a low cost.
- No Hidden Fees: The government has removed inheritance and mutation fees, which were major corruption hotspots under Dharani.
- Satellite-Based Surveys: Live, GPS-mapped land surveys ensure zero duplication and absolute accuracy.
Conclusion
Bhumata Portal Launch and Open Consultation on the RoR draft bill has been strong assets of a citizen-centered and progressive government. Land owners in the Telangana region, particularly poor farmers, are enjoying land access, voice and agency in deciding how and why their land is used and guarded like never before in decades.
Giving much importance to transparency, efficiency, and inclusive laws, there is currently no doubt that the Congress government is effectively transforming wrongs committed by the Dharani and also establishing a national precedent of land reforms being performed in the right manner.
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