The Odisha government is gearing up to introduce a transformative new legislation aimed at modernising land administration in the state. Revenue and Disaster Management Minister Suresh Kumar Pujari revealed that a draft of the Odisha Government Land Management Act has been prepared and will soon be placed before the Cabinet.
Speaking on the initiative, Minister Pujari stated that the new Act is designed to consolidate and replace several archaic revenue laws currently in force. The primary objective is to create a unified, efficient legal framework that ensures optimal utilisation of government land for public welfare and developmental initiatives.
The drafting process has been thorough and inclusive. It involved extensive consultations with revenue experts, senior officials—including the Revenue Commissioner, Additional Chief Secretary (Revenue and Development), and Law Secretary—as well as specialised legal practitioners in revenue matters. Input from District Collectors was also incorporated to address practical, field-level challenges faced in land management.
Once the draft receives in-principle approval from the Revenue Department, it will be forwarded to the state Cabinet for final clearance. The government intends to table the bill during the upcoming session of the Odisha Legislative Assembly.
This move is expected to streamline administrative processes, reduce legal complexities, and facilitate faster implementation of infrastructure and welfare projects across the state by making government land more accessible and efficiently managed.
The announcement has generated interest among stakeholders, who see it as a step towards more transparent and effective land governance in Odisha.
