Reading a title & buildability checklist

Patta vs khata, right of way, water rights, and how close is too close to a reserve forest.

Title record

Patta (Tamil Nadu, parts of Kerala) and khata (Karnataka) are records that the revenue department recognises you as the holder. An "A khata" is cleaner than a "B khata"; an RTC in Karnataka shows agricultural rights and crop. None of these is the same as a registered sale deed — you need the chain of title going back several owners.

Road access

A plot with no legal access is worth far less and may be unsaleable later. "Private road" means you depend on a neighbour's goodwill unless there is a registered right of way. Ask to see it in the deed, not just on the ground.

Water

A borewell, an open well, a stream on the boundary, or a panchayat connection — each has different reliability and different rights. A stream you can see is not necessarily a stream you can legally draw from. In the Western Ghats, summer water in a bad year is the real test.

Forest boundary & eco-sensitive zones

Several states restrict or prohibit construction within a set distance of a reserve-forest boundary, and the Western Ghats ESZ notifications add another layer. If the checklist shows the plot is within a few hundred metres of forest, or flags an ESZ, budget for a specialist opinion before you commit.

This guide is general information, current as of September 2026. Land law in India varies by state and changes often — always confirm your specific parcel with a local advocate.