Yogi Government Orders Fresh Statewide Survey of 75,000 Acres of Nazul Land Worth Rs 2 Lakh Crore

In a major administrative push to secure state assets and reform urban governance, the Uttar Pradesh government has ordered a comprehensive fresh survey of all Nazul properties across the state. The crucial decision was finalized during a high-level meeting chaired by Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, following deliberations on the Uttar Pradesh Nazul Property (Management and Use for Public Purposes) Bill, 2024. State authorities estimate that Uttar Pradesh holds approximately 75,000 acres of Nazul land valued at an astounding Rs 2 lakh crore, much of which has historically been vulnerable to fraudulent conversions and illegal occupations.

Mandate for a One-Month Statewide Survey and Legal Audit

During the meeting held at the Vidhan Bhavan under the leadership of Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath—who also holds the Housing portfolio—officials of the Housing and Urban Planning Department were directed to complete a meticulous survey within a month.

The survey will evaluate:

• The exact total inventory of government lands and buildings across all districts.

• The identification of properties under illegal occupation and commercial encroachment.

• The status of freehold properties and an audit of pending court cases associated with government assets.

The findings from this survey will be submitted to the nine-member Select Committee of the Legislative Council to help draft balanced amendments before the upcoming winter session.

Cracking Down on Land Mafias and Securing Public Assets

The proposed legislation aims to overhaul how Nazul land—historical properties confiscated by the British government from freedom fighters and rulers—is managed. Successive administrations have faced scrutiny over allegations that land mafias, influential politicians, and bureaucrats exploited legal loopholes to convert prime urban Nazul parcels into freehold property for a fraction of their market value.

Under the framework of the new legislation, Nazul land will be strictly reserved for public development and welfare projects, preventing private individuals or commercial organizations from acquiring full ownership. Furthermore, pending freehold applications will be treated as rejected, and refunds will be processed for amounts previously deposited, while District Magistrates will be empowered to recover rent from lessees holding properties past their lease expiration.

Distribution of Nazul Land Across Major UP Cities

Historically, large swathes of prime urban real estate across Uttar Pradesh are classified as Nazul land. Major concentrations exist in metropolitan hubs such as:

• Prayagraj (notably including the high-value Civil Lines area)

• Lucknow

• Kanpur

• Varanasi

• Ayodhya

• Sultanpur, Gonda, and Barabanki

By tightening state oversight, the Yogi Adityanath administration aims to dismantle the nexus of illegal real estate syndicates, protect legitimate long-term residents from displacement, and ensure that valuable public land is transparently utilized for urban expansion and community infrastructure.