Jammu, Aug 12: Despite having been admonished on several occasions by the centre for not meeting the deadline, the state’s revenue department is yet to start the computerization of the land records on a major scale.
 Pertinently, Union Rural Development Minister Jairam Ramesh Friday told the Lok Sabha that only 15 percent funds have been utilized in Jammu and Kashmir for computerization of land records. Against Rs 1828 crore released by the Center for the purpose, only Rs 286 crore have been used since 2007, when the scheme was launched by the Department of Land Resources.
 Lagging far behind from the other states, Jammu and Kashmir has failed in implementing the project at a desired pace, sources said adding that for the last five years since the start of the project, J&K has been able to computerize only the new land and property registries, while the old ones are yet to be touched.
 Pertinently, the digitization of land records was started in the year 2007 - under the centrally sponsored National Land Records Modernization Programme (NLRMP) with April 2011 as the deadline for the completion of the project in twenty districts of the state.
 “Under Computerization of Land Records (CLR) the revenue department is to computerize all the land records including old and new. The new land records are being computerized but the process for old land records is a tough job and is yet to take off in the state,” sources said, adding that at present the department is busy in the digitization of maps and other records.
 The shortage of staff, they said, in the department was a major impediment in the completion of the project. “There is around 40 percent shortage of Patwaris and Tehsildars in revenue department which is creating hurdles in the effective implementation of the project,” an official of revenue department said.
 He said the process has already been initiated to address the issue of staff shortage in the department. “In coming months recruitment of Patwaris and Tehsildars will be completed and the scheme will gain momentum,” officials in the department said.
 However, while the department was making tall claims of going hi-tech, it does not have any website of its own where the stakeholders can get information and status of the computerization process.
 The project envisages computerization, creation of modern record room facilities, utilization of core GIS system, legal changes and amendments, infrastructural development and data entry centres, scanning and preservation of old records and connecting all the sub-centres, training and capacity building of revenue officers.
 The NLRMP has three major components including Computerization of land records, Survey/re-survey and Computerization of Registrations. Under the scheme, each district has to be taken as the unit of implementation, where all programme activities are to converged.
 Pertinently, GoI approved massive plan for land records computerization across the country under SRA and ULR in 2008 and provided funds to all states for the purpose. Later, GoI modified and merged both the schemes under NLRMP.
 Under yet another scheme, the National Land Records Modernization Programme, the state has not spent any money out of Rs 1,479 crore given to it. However, the state has managed to show a decent expenditure on the Strengthening of Revenue Administration and Updating of Land Records Scheme. It has spent Rs 1,312 crore out of Rs 1,509 crore allotted to it.
 Revenue, Relief and Rehabilitation Minister Raman Bhalla said that due to shortage of manpower and other impediments the project has not been completed. “It is a big project and needs lot of work. Within coming months all the land records will be computerized and will be displayed on the website of Revenue department” he said.

Lastupdate on : Sun, 12 Aug 2012 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Sun, 12 Aug 2012 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Mon, 13 Aug 2012 00:00:00 IST