With a view to providing the NRIs an option to check details of their land records in the state, the Punjab Government would soon start a new system for checking all such records online. This was stated by Minister for Department of Revenue, Rehabilitation and Disaster Management, Punjab, Ajit Singh Kohar.

“It is really cumbersome for the NRIs to get the details of their land records, but now the process of computerisation of all 156 tehsils and sub-tehsils of Punjab is underway. So far, 56 tehsils and sub-tehsils have been computerised and the rest would be made fully computerised by March 31 next year,” he said.

Speaking to The Tribune after inaugurating the Kisan Mela organised by the Young Farmers Association in coordination with the Agriculture Department at Rakhra village, here today, Kohar said, “Once the computerisation process is over, we will immediately start the project for providing online land records and the project is likely to be completed by mid 2011”.

He added that in order to make the process simple, the powers to give the copy of ‘Fard’ (revenue sheet) had been bestowed with the employees lower than the rank of patwari.

“However, the authority to attest the Fard will remain with patwari only,” he said, adding that now tehsildars had been empowered to make changes in the Fard, as earlier, such powers were with the SDM only.

“In order to provide speedy services to the masses, we have decided on the project and directions have been issued. After the land registry is executed, the copy of the same can be procured the very next day. Also, for subsequent demand for the copy of the land registry, the applicant has to pay a fee of Rs 20 per page,” he added.