Minister for Revenue N D Venkatachalam on Friday urged the Central government to adopt a more flexible approach while allocating funds for the states when it comes to implementation of projects like National Land Records Modernisation Programme (NLRMP).
Speaking at the regional review meeting on NLRMP here, he said,“rather than sticking to component-wise allocation of funds, a more flexible approach could be adopted based on the requirements of the States in achieving the ultimate goals of NLRMP, viz, online management of land records, conclusive land titling, etc.” The minister said the Centre had been allocating funds for many purposes including initial land survey whereas TN had moved far ahead by computerising the land records pertaining to rural area. Only the land records in urban areas were yet to the computerised. Further, funds allocated for aerial survey may not be required at all for TN as the State already had proper land records.
Venkatachalam said when the State sought ` 6.20 crore for implementing web-based application for online management of land records, the NLRMP monitoring committee declined the request without seeing the ultimate goal - automatic online mutation and land records. The States should be at their liberty to utilise the savings of funds sanctioned for one scheme towards the other essential components of computerization process.
Revenue Secretary Ramesram Mishra said the State would take up this issue in the meeting to be held on July 22 and press for the release of `6.20 crore.