"A proposal to bring a new bill in the monsoon session of the state legislature is under active consideration. We want to prohibit sale of khas mahal land," state land reforms and revenue department sources told PTI.

An expert panel, headed by the department's principal secretary, would prepare the draft for the proposed legislation for approval of the state cabinet, sources said.

Growing urbanisation of Patna and other townships had sparked off a 'systematic' transfer and re-transfer of khas mahal land by the original lessees without even the knowledge of the government.

This has set off a profiteering trend which is in violation of the khas mahal agreements with the state. In Patna it is a common practice to sell off vast tracts of khas mahal land at huge market prices, whereas the government gets a pittance in rent and salami from the new buyer or lessee, they said.

Giving legal safegyards to 'bataidars', toning up revenue administration, identification and taking over of ceiling surplus land possessed illegally by landed class and estates, besides addressing the discerpencies in contract farming were among other prescriptions suggested by the B Bandopadhyay Commission to the Bihar government.