Bhubaneswar: In a major step toward streamlining land administration and enhancing operational efficiency across Odisha, a high-level audit review meeting was convened under the chairmanship of Shri Satyabrata Sahu, Member of the Board of Revenue.
The meeting addressed long-standing procedural bottlenecks within the audit mechanism that oversees 420 field and regional establishments, including Revenue Commissioners, District Collectorates, Sub-Collector offices, Tahsils, and the Bhoodan Yagna Samiti.
Recognizing that prolonged audit exercises spanning several months disrupt daily land administration tasks and impede field personnel, the Shri Sahu Member, Board of Revenue has announced a comprehensive overhaul of the process.
To ensure transparency, accountability, and smooth administrative workflow, a new Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) is being instituted. Under the revised guidelines, the duration for auditing a specific office’s financial year performance will be strictly capped at a maximum of 20 working days.
To maintain objectivity and eliminate conflicts of interest, auditors will no longer be assigned to conduct audits within their home districts. Priority will be given to offices that have not undergone auditing in recent years, ensuring complete coverage within time-bound targets.
Senior officials present in the meeting included the Secretary to the Board of Revenue, Financial Advisor, Under Secretary, Audit Superintendent, and auditors.
The initiative aims to modernize revenue governance, minimize disruption to public land services, and enforce strict institutional integrity across state land offices.