Instead of running from pillar to post, landowners can now pay their lagan from the comfort of their homes or while on the move — all they need is a computer or smartphone and an Internet connection.

To simplify and expedite the procedure involved, Revenue, Registration and land Reforms Department has started the ‘Online lagan’ facility on its web portal, www.jharbhoomi.nic.in, which can be used to pay lagan through internet banking and generate a receipt against the said payment.

Along with this, taxpayers also get options of looking up details of their last tax payment, outstanding taxes and details about their plot as put down in Register-II.

“This service was conceived to offer improved and hassle-free public service. Although the amount to be paid as lagan in very less, but its receipt is a crucial document as it establishes ownership on a particular land plot. The intention is to keep services as far as possible from offices so that people can get their work done even without having to interact with officials,” stated Revenue and land Reforms department Secretary KK Soan.

He further added, “Before this, manual staff could issue lagan receipts only at the year end, citing reasons as work pressure or availability of time. But now, people can get lagan receipts at their own convenience. It is a boon for someone, say, like a farmer as he can now easily apply for loans at a bank instead of going to loan sharks, safe from the vicious loan cycle.”

Started under Digital India land Records Modernisation Programme (DIlRMP) in March in this year, the initiative now covers 42 blocks of Ranchi, Hazaribagh and Ramgarh, informed Department’s Director Rajeev Ranjan. These are the districts with completely digitised land records, crucial in implementing the Online lagan service.

“We are looking forward to cover 50 more blocks by August 15 in East Singhbhum, Bokaro, Chatra, Dumka, Dhanbad, Gumla and Khunti as land mutation records are digitised there. This wait is necessary as we will not have much scope of rectifying any mistakes in land records once they are digitised,” said Ranjan.

Across the 24 districts of State, 135 blocks have completely digitised land records, blocks where Online lagan is being implemented in phase-wise manner. By November this year, the entire State of Jharkhand will be brought under the gamut of Online lagan payment facility, said Soan.

“We have two modes of operation – through web browser and Android mobile application. I recently demonstrated how the application can be used to pay lagan at a conference organised by Government of India over land reforms to much applause,” Ranjan said.

Taxpayers can also go to digitised block offices or even cyber cafes to submit their lagan.