Agricultural land surveys are crucial for landowners in Telangana to establish clear boundaries, resolve disputes, and maintain accurate land records for legal or developmental purposes. Whether you’re planning to sell your property, settle an inheritance, or clarify ownership, a land survey ensures transparency and compliance with state regulations. This blog provides a comprehensive, step-by-step guide to applying for an agricultural land survey in Telangana, helping you navigate the process with ease and confidence.
What is an Agricultural Land Survey?
An agricultural land survey is a professional and technical process of measuring and mapping a parcel of agricultural land. It involves using specialized equipment (like Total Stations and GPS) to precisely determine the dimensions, area, and geographical coordinates of a property. The outcome of a survey is an official map or sketch (known as a ‘Tippan’ or ‘Field Measurement Book – FMB’ copy in Telangana) that provides a legal and accurate description of the land’s boundaries.
How to apply for survey of agricultural land in Telangana? (Step-by-Step Process to Apply
Required Documents for Agricultural Land Survey in Telangana
- Proof of Ownership (Most Important): You need a copy of any one of the following documents to prove you own the land.
- Pattadar Passbook (Title Deed cum Passbook)
- Registered Sale Deed or Title Deed
- Proof of Identity:
- Aadhaar Card of the applicant (the landowner).
- Latest Land Revenue Record:
- A copy of the latest Pahani / Adangal. This document shows the current status of the land, including the owner’s name and cultivation details.
- Rough Sketch Map of the Land:
- A simple, hand-drawn map of your land showing its approximate shape, nearby landmarks, and the survey numbers of the adjacent lands. This helps the surveyor easily identify the property.
- Application Form:
- This is the form you will fill out either online on the Dharani portal or at the MeeSeva center with the operator’s help.
- Affidavit (Sometimes Required):
- A self-declaration or a notarized affidavit stating that you are the rightful owner and the reason for requesting the survey. The format is usually available at the MeeSeva center or can be written on plain pape
Step 1: Visit the Relevant Authority
Your first step is to decide how you want to apply. You have two primary options:
- Online Application (Recommended):
- Authority: The Dharani Portal, which is the official, integrated land records website for the Government of Telangana.
- Details: This is the most efficient method. It allows you to apply from anywhere, upload documents digitally, pay online, and track your application in real-time. It is designed to be transparent and reduce the need for physical visits to government offices.
- Offline Application (Assisted):
- Authority: A MeeSeva Center or the local Mandal Revenue Office (MRO) / Tahsildar Office.
- Details: If you are not comfortable with online systems or prefer in-person assistance, you can visit a MeeSeva center. The operator there will fill out the application on your behalf and submit it online through their portal. Alternatively, you can directly approach the MRO office, but MeeSeva is the standard channel for citizen services.
Step 2: Submit Application Form
The application form is where you provide all the critical information about yourself and your land.
- Online Form: On the Dharani portal, you will fill out a digital form. The fields will be clearly labeled.
- Physical Form: At a MeeSeva center, the operator will fill out the same information into their system based on the details you provide.
How to Fill the Form Accurately: Have your Pattadar Passbook or Sale Deed with you. You must enter the following details exactly as they appear in your official land documents to avoid rejection:
- Applicant’s Details: Full Name, Father’s Name, Aadhaar Number, Mobile Number.
- Land Location: District, Mandal, and Village.
- Land Identification: Survey Number(s) and Sub-division Number(s) of the parcel(s) you want to be surveyed.
- Land Extent: The exact area of the land (e.g., in Acres and Guntas).
Step 3: Attach Required Documents and Pay Fees
Your application is incomplete without the necessary supporting documents and fee payment.
- Submitting Documents:
- Online: You will need to scan and upload clear copies of your documents (usually in PDF or JPG format).
- Offline: You will hand over physical photocopies of your documents to the MeeSeva operator.
- Application Fees: The fee for a land survey is determined by the government and typically depends on the number of survey numbers and the extent of the land. The fee is usually modest. You will pay this fee either through the online payment gateway on the Dharani portal or directly at the MeeSeva counter.
Step 4: Schedule the Survey
Once your application is successfully submitted and verified, the official process begins.
- How it’s Scheduled: Your application is forwarded electronically to the concerned Tahsildar (MRO). The Tahsildar assigns it to the Mandal Surveyor. The surveyor, based on their schedule, will fix a date for the field inspection.
- Official Notice: You will receive an official notice via SMS or mail informing you of the scheduled survey date. Crucially, the authorities will also serve notices to the owners of the lands adjacent to yours, ensuring they are aware and can be present.
- Estimated Timeline: The survey is typically scheduled within 15 to 30 working days from the date of your application, depending on the department’s workload.
Step 5: Survey Execution
This is the physical inspection stage where the actual measurement takes place.
- What Happens: On the scheduled date, the Mandal Surveyor will visit your land with their equipment (like a Total Station). They will measure the land as per the official records and demarcate the boundaries, often by placing boundary stones (haddu bastu rayi).
- Importance of Your Presence: It is critically important for you (the landowner) or a trusted representative to be present during the survey. Your presence is needed to:
- Point out your claimed boundaries.
- Answer any questions the surveyor may have.
- Witness the process and sign the official report (panchanama) confirming the survey was conducted in your presence. The presence of neighboring landowners is also vital to prevent future disputes.
Step 6: Receiving Survey Results
After the fieldwork is complete, the surveyor finalizes the report and updates the records.
- What You Receive: The final output is an official, certified copy of the survey map, often called a Tippan or FMB (Field Measurement Book) copy. This document legally defines your land’s boundaries and area. The digital records on the Dharani portal will also be updated.
- How to Access Results:
- Online: If you applied through Dharani, you should be able to download the digitally signed survey map from the portal once it is approved and issued.
- Offline: You may need to collect the physical copy of the survey map from the MRO/Tahsildar office.
Online Application via Dharani Portal
The Dharani portal is the Government of Telangana’s revolutionary integrated land records management system. It serves as a single source of truth for all agricultural land records, combining registration and administration services on one platform. Its goal is to make land transactions transparent, efficient, and secure for citizens.
Step-by-Step Guide to Applying Online
- Register/Login:
- Go to the official Dharani portal website (
dharani.telangana.gov.in). - Click on “Sign Up” if you are a first-time user. You will need your name, mobile number, and email to register. You will validate your identity using an OTP sent to your mobile.
- If you are already registered, click “Login” and enter your credentials.
- Go to the official Dharani portal website (
- Navigate to the Land Survey Section:
- After logging in, look for a section named “Citizen Services” or “Applications”.
- Within this section, find the service named “Application for Survey and Demarcation” or “Application for Fixation of Land Boundaries.”
- Fill in Details and Upload Documents:
- The online application form will appear. Carefully fill in your personal and land details (Survey No., Village, Mandal, etc.) as explained in Step 2 above.
- You will be prompted to upload scanned copies of the required documents (Pattadar Passbook, Aadhaar Card, etc.). Ensure your scans are clear and legible.
- Pay Applicable Fees Online:
- After filling the form and uploading documents, the portal will calculate the required fee.
- You will be directed to a secure payment gateway. You can pay using UPI, Credit Card, Debit Card, or Net Banking.
- Upon successful payment, a Transaction ID and acknowledgment receipt will be generated. Save this ID carefully.
- Track Application Status:
- You can monitor the progress of your application at any time.
- Go to the “Track Application Status” section on the portal.
- Enter your Application ID or Transaction ID to see the current stage of your request (e.g., “Submitted,” “Forwarded to MRO,” “Survey Scheduled,” “Approved”).
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. What is the easiest way to apply for a land survey?
The easiest and most recommended method is to apply online through the Dharani portal. It allows you to submit your application, upload documents, pay fees, and track the status from anywhere, minimizing visits to government offices.
2. What is the most important document I need for the application?
Your Pattadar Passbook or the land’s Sale Deed is the most crucial document. It contains the official details like the survey number and land extent, which must be entered accurately in the application.
3. How much does a land survey cost?
The fee is not fixed. It is determined by the government based on the extent of the land and the number of survey numbers involved. The amount is generally minimal and will be calculated automatically when you apply on the Dharani portal or at a MeeSeva center.
4. How long does the entire process take?
Typically, the process takes between 15 to 30 working days from application submission to the scheduling of the physical survey. The final delivery of the survey records may take a little longer.
5. What should I do if my neighbor disputes the survey?
The government surveyor is required to send official notices to the owners of all adjacent lands before the survey date. If a dispute arises during the survey, the surveyor will record the objections. The survey is conducted based on official FMB (Field Measurement Book) records, which serve as the legal basis for resolving such disputes.
6. Do I have to be present for the survey?
Yes, it is highly recommended that the landowner or a trusted representative be present. Your presence ensures that you can point out your claimed boundaries and sign off on the official proceedings, which strengthens the validity of the survey report.
7. Can I apply for a survey of a sub-division of land?
Yes, you can apply for a survey to officially demarcate a sub-division (phodi). This is common during family partitions or when selling a part of a larger land parcel. The process is the same.
8. Is a survey mandatory to sell my land?
While not always mandatory, having a recent and clear survey map is highly advisable. It provides legal clarity on boundaries and area to the buyer, prevents future disputes, and can make the property transaction much smoother.