Odisha plans to scrap revenue clearance for urban land-use conversion

Odisha is planning to do away with separate revenue department clearance for converting agricultural land to non-agricultural use in urban areas, making municipal and development authorities the single point of approval under a proposed amendment to the state’s six-decade-old land law.

The Odisha Land Reforms (Amendment) Bill, 2026, likely to be tabled in the monsoon session of the Odisha Assembly, would end the requirement of approaching local tehsildars for conversion. Instead, municipal bodies will collect conversion fees during plan approval and notify the Revenue Department electronically, which will update the Record-of-Rights without a separate application.

The exemption applies only if land use conforms to approved plans and local bylaws. Land recorded as forest, protected under the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act, or prohibited under special laws cannot be converted. Pending applications will be processed under existing rules, though applicants can withdraw and reapply under the new provisions.