Land Identification and Measurement Systems Followed in the State of West Bengal
1) Pertaining to Identification of Land : a) Porcha and Dager Tothya (Plot Information) – Survey of lands are done for obtaining the specific location, measurement, demarcation and ascertaining the state of ownership/possession of a land chiefly for the purpose of collecting Government revenue. Sultan Sher Shah introduced the initial system in regions under his control for the collection of revenue but the same was not perfect. The first effective step towards accurate assessment relying on elaborate survey of land and one uniform standard of measurement was taken by Todar Mall, Finance Minister to the Emperor Akbar. Todar Mall’s system of survey was in proper operation until 1765 when the English East India Company assumed control over the revenues of Bengal (then united). The same system would continue to be followed by the people until 1769 when the Company appointed supervisors to Bengali Babus who were handling the revenue department and subsequently the supervisors