Present Administrative Structure

     The Land Revenue System prevalent in Satara district is Rayatwari and is based on a complete survey,soil classification and settlement of the assessment of every field.  

Survey

The survey work was done by cross-staff and chain method.The unit of the area was the “English acre” with its sub-division the Guntha equal to 21 sq.yd.,40 gunthas making an acre.The area of each survey number is seperatly entered in the Land Records under an indicative number and that of the sub-division,too,is entered under an indicative number subordinate to that of the survey number of which it forms a part.In 1964 after the implementation of Metric Conversion system the unit of “English Acre Guntha”is converted to “Hector are”.one are is equal to 100 sq.mt.and

10,000sq.mtrs.or 100ares forming one Hector.All the records have been converted to the Mtric System.

The Survey and Settlement activity in the District

 The original survey and settleemnts were introducd in this district between 1858-59 and 1862-63.

The first revision settlements were introduced between 1890-91 and 1895-96.

The second revision settlements were introduced between 1924-25 and 1926-27.

The whole of the district has been surveyed,classified and settled.

   A special staff was sanctioned by the Government for undertaking the survey and classification of the inam villages in the district in 1954.The special staff was put under the charge of two Survey Mamlatdars.The measurement and classification in respect of 170 villages of present Satara district was completed by the said staff by 31^st December 1957.The staff has also completed the work of preparing Akarbands in respect of inam villages.

Village, Taluka and District maps.

   Accurate village maps have been prepared (generally on a scale of 20 chains to an inch) in respect of all the Khalsa and Inam villages by chain and cross-staff method and on a scale of 10 chains to an inch in respect of the remaining inam villages surveyed by minor triangulation method. Village maps prepared in the scale of 20 chains to an inch to show the survey numbers and their boundary marks and other topographical details such as roads,nallas and forests etc whereas the maps prepared in respect of inam villages surveyed on minor triangulation method show the above particulars and in addition the hissas contained in each survey number as well as the minor triangukation stones with reference to which the boundaries of the survey number and hissas could be re-laid if necessary.From these village maps the maps of taluka and district and the maps of the States have been prepared on a smaller and convenient scale of one inch to two miles.

Classification

        The main clauses of lands as defined in the land revenue code which are recognized as dry crop,garden and rice,and the soil of each field has been classified with reference to its texture,its depth and deteriorating factors and extra advantages, if any such as availability of nalla water,slit deposit,availability of drainage from higher lands,etc. The water fctor has been separately considered in respect of well water (Motasthal garden) by classifying the wells and in respect of flow water (Patasthal garden) by classifying the duration and availability of water from the bandharas etc.and the crops grown thereon.

      The classification value was expressed in terms of annas,16 annas representing the standard in Satara district the dry crop lands have been further divided into the following four sub-classes viz.Khuski,Jirayat,Tisali and Kumari for purposes of detailed classification.

      One more factor that was particularly taken into consideration for the purpose of assessment of the lands was the Dongar class.Previously Tisali and Kumari lands had a specially sanctioned rate different from that of the ordinary dry crop.This was subsequently abolished and all dry crop lands have now one and the same rate. The inferior quality of Tisali and Kumari lands is now accounted for by the application of this Dongar class by which the standard rate is lowered according to the class of the Dongar land.These land were divided into three classes according to their situation i.e.land situated on (1)plains,(2)minor spurs and (3)elevated spurs of hills.

Settlement and Assessment

      Most of the soli classification as was originally done has been more or less confirmed during the revision survey and classification in this district except for the application of new classes viz.the general position class and the dongar class.According to provisions made in the land revenue code the original classification if confirmed or the revision classification if undertaken is final and no general reclassification of the soil is made at further revision settlements.All improvements made at the cost of private capital are exempt from increased taxation for a period of 30 years.They become liable for such taxation thereafter at the next revision settlements.

Settlement and Assessment

      Prior to 1939,the settlement procedure was prescribed by administrative orders of Government under the Land Revenue Code.The settlement procedure was forst brought on to the Statute Book under the Amendment(Bombay XX of 1939).Under the Land Revenue Code Amendment Act XXVIII of 1956,certain changes have been made in the settlement procedure.The changes in brief involve a shift in emphasis from the general economic conditions of the area and rental values to the prevalent prices and yields of principal crops. The various provisions governing the settlement procedure are contained in the Land Revenue Code and Land Revenue Rules.

The Maitenance Surveyor’s staff is responsible for the maintenance of city surveys which are introduced as per the provisions of Land Revenue Code and the rcords including the Record of Rights and maps connected therewith and assist the revenue administration of the city-surveyrd areas.They work under the immediate control  of the City Survey Officer.Such surveys were introduced in the following important cities and towns in the Satara district in the years noted against each

1. Survey of Forest Alike Areas
The mapping of forest alike area in Mahabaleshwar Taluka was carried out in 2007 by the directions of Hon’ble High Court of Bombay wherein the forest alike area of 12000 hectors(approxi) was identified. This enabled the administration to maintain the ecological balance of the region and protect the flora and fauna of the district.

2. Establishment of CORS
The district of Satara has three Contineously Operating Reference Stationsmainly at
1. Upalve in Phaltan Taluka
2. Karad
3. Medha inJaoli Taluka

The CORS would be the base towers for the ROVERS network which would be helping the administration to achieve zero pendency of measurement cases. Also would create accurate and swiftless measurement thereby nullifying tampering of measurement

3. City Survey using Drones
New technology has been introduced for the city work. In Khatav taluka of Satara district is the first taluka whrere city survey of the remaining 82 villages has been completed by using Drones.This project is known as SVAMITVA and is the joint venture of Survey of India,Rural Development Department and Land Records Department