Cut down red-tapism, revenue officials told

The Times of India: Surat: Wednesday, November 07, 2012.

Revenue inspection commissioner has directed authorities in Valsad district to cut down on red-tapism following complaints that the officials were sitting on files and forcing people to follow unnecessary procedures.

The facts came to light after an RTI activist lodged a complaint with RIC Arun Sutaria during his recent visit that the district panchayat is following several unauthorized procedures.

The activist Manish Desai claimed that he had evidence to show that the revenue department of district panchayat as well as the collector's office had forced applicants to follow procedures, which were not actually required.

"According to documents I collected using RTI, there were more than 200 cases seeking conversion of land from agriculture to non agriculture, sale permissions and change of tenure that were stuck up due to red-tapism in the system for the last two years," Desai said.

Desai added that despite availability of many resolutions and circulars that aim to provide an easy governance to applicants, the authorities are delaying the clearances in large number of cases causing huge financial loss to state exchequer.

"I have directed all authorities to follow only latest government resolutions and notifications," Sutaria told TOI.

Udit Agarwal, district development officer (DDO), Valsad district panchayat also confirmed the instructions he received and admitted that irregularities were taking place in some revenue procedures.