MLA and Advisor for Land Revenue, Law and Justice, TN Mannen at the Department of Land Records and Survey, Nagaland in Dimapur on September 25. (Morung Photo)
Need for proper patta system to unlock economic opportunities
Morung Express News
Dimapur | September 25
Land revenue and records are perhaps the oldest and most essential functions of statecraft. Nagaland, allegedly, has not been able to consolidate this aspect of governance, unable to define the duties and responsibilities of the Land Revenue Department.
“We have not been able to explore the full potential and responsibility of the Department,” remarked, TN Mannen, MLA and Advisor for Land Revenue, at the Annual Departmental Officer’s Meeting at the Directorate of Land Records and Survey, in Dimapur on September 25.
According to him, the Department is partly responsible for this because it has not fully undertaken the activities it is supposed to do.
Mannen, who is also incharge of the Law and Justice Department, pointed out that the state failed to take advantage of the Digital India Land Records Modernisation Programme (DILRMP).
The DILRMP was launched in 2008 by the Government of India with the purpose of digitising and modernising “land records and to usher in a system of updated land records, automated and automatic mutation, integration between textual and spatial records, inter-connectivity between revenue and registration, to replace the present deeds registration and presumptive title system with that of conclusive titling with title guarantee.” Despite its introduction to the state in 2009, he said that not a single completed land record has been made available on the web portal to date.
While stating that the lack of a proper land title (patta) system is depriving the citizens of economic opportunities, he asserted that without proper documentation, land cannot be used as a mortgageable asset. “No bank, no financial institution would hand out loan without patta,” he said, linking the issue to the state’s high unemployment rate by stifling self-employment opportunities.
The lack of a land documentation system, except in Dimapur, has prevented citizens from benefiting from the SARFAESI Act, he added.
In Nagaland, land revenue is practically confined to the Dimapur “mouza,” an area of about 46 square kilometers, where the Assam land law from the British period is still prevails. However, said that there prevails a major concern relating to outdated land records. According to him, the records for the Dimapur cadastral area have not been updated in years, leading to problems, including single plots having multiple registered owners.
Mannen also held that Article 371 (A), which protects tribal land ownership, is being misinterpreted, rendering the land unusable as a financial asset. Given the circumstances, he challenged the department to "rise to the occasion," stressing the need for proper land surveys and creating a reliable record system.
No update since ‘94
The Commissioner and Secretary, Land Revenue, Dr Zasekuolie Chusi revealed that the land records of the Dimapur cadastral area is over 30 years old. According to him, the only cadastral survey in the state, which was conducted in Dimapur, dates back to 1994, and has not been updated since.
“We have enormous work to be carried out,” he added, urging the officers of the Department to undertake the “Herculean task” of modernising the state's land records.
“Nagas are very rich. But the problem lies with us is we have not digitalized, and we have not surveyed, and then we don't have the records,” he added, referring to both government and private land.
He further highlighted what was described as a significant challenge facing the department. Without providing any figures, he said that the Department operates with a “handful of officers” despite being a 50 year-old Department. The alleged small workforce was also acknowledged by the MLA and Advisor.
While acknowledging the government's financial constraints in creating new posts, he advocated for a cadre review to optimise the existing workforce.
