Chief Minister Hemant Soren on Saturday introduced online mutation of land in two circles of Ranchi — Itki and Namkum — taking the first step towards digitisation of land records and paving the way for an effective, fast and transparent mechanism for maintenance of land records.
The system is likely to be introduced in all districts by the end of current financial year.
Mutation of land is the recording in the revenue records the transfer of title of a property from one person to another. The department of Revenue and land Reforms also facilitated online availability of record of rights and map of lands in the two circles.
Significantly, the department has now set the goal of implementing online mutation in almost 80 per cent blocks in the State by the end of the current financial year.
The goal has been divided in two phases — first to introduce the service in around 30 circles by November 15 and covering around 80 percent circles by the end of March 2014.
“The task needs right set of approach. Perform the task like a mission and don’t hesitate in taking help from senior officials,” said Soren on this occasion. Notably, realising the importance of proper land and revenue management the State Government has asked for a separate entry in the Confidential Report of a
land revenue official for his contribution towards modernisation and maintenance of land records. “A letter regarding this has been sent to all concerned officials. However, I don’t know to what extent we can implement it,” said Chief Secretary RS Sharma.
The CM pinned hope on this modern method to reduce administrative hurdles in mutation besides curbing the practice of greasing the palms of officials and other vested interests active in the corridors of a district Registry Office.
The system is also a setback to land sharks who sell the same piece of land multiple times.
“Registry offices are full of middlemen who dupe people in the name of correcting land records. Nothing can be done if money is not paid in these offices. This system will reduce dependence on such people by reducing the layer of interface between a person and the system,” said Soren.
land has always been a sensitive issue in Jharkhand and is often been put as the sole basis for deciding domicile. Besides, lack of clarity on the title of a land is said to be affecting pace of industrialisation and Government projects in the State. The CM rued wastage of resources due to opaqueness in the management of land records in the State which is incidentally carried out manually in the state.
“Our budget has expanded since the creation of the State but development is not visible on the ground. We would have done a lot better had we corrected land records at our disposal. I believe now we can use the resources in a much better way,” maintained the Chief Minister.
Notwithstanding the benefits, prolonged duration of land survey is said to be the biggest hurdle in preparing authentic maps for verification of a land submitted for mutation.
“Modern survey techniques have been developed which helps in completing a survey in less time. We should use all modern techniques which are cost effective also,” added Sharma.