Meghalaya, one of the seven sister states of India’s North East, is home to many tribes. Each tribe brings with it its unique customs, culture, and modes of communication. Meghalaya’s real estate sector is different from other states in the country. The land falling within the territory’s jurisdiction does not belong to the state government. It is owned by the indigenous tribes residing on the land for thousands of years.
The Directorate of Land Records and Surveys (DLRS) prepares and maintains Meghalaya land records. It is supervised by the Meghalaya Revenue and Disaster Management Department (MRDMD) and follows the guidelines of the Land Survey and Records Preparation Act, 1980.
If you own real estate in Meghalaya, you must know that the records are currently only available offline. This comprehensive guide teaches you about DLRS, its functionalities, and why the records are not yet available online.
About the Directorate of Land Records and Surveys
The Directorate of Land Records and Surveys operates under the Revenue and Disaster Management Department. It maintains the state’s land records offline, as the land in Meghalaya was last surveyed during the British regime. The only exception is some villages in the Garo Hills. The land records or Bhulekh Meghalaya indicate the land’s occupancy and possession.
Key Functionalities of the DLRS
● Surveying works for the preparation of land records.
● Managing responsibilities related to districts and sub-divisional boundaries.
● Annually restoring displaced/missing/damaged boundary pillars in collaboration with the Bangladesh authorities based on sectors.
● Printing Indo-Bangladesh district and state maps and strip maps.
● Compiling the state’s completed land acquisition cases.
Moreover, DLRS Meghalaya coordinates with the following district offices to digitise maps and update revenue records:
● Survey Wing associated with the Director of Land Records and Surveys in Shillong.
● Revenue Branch of six districts and one sub-division.
● The Meghalaya Survey School, headquartered in Tura.
Survey Wing
The survey wing of the DLRS comprises the following four sections:
● General and Controlling Section
● Traverse Section
● Drawing Section
● Reproduction Section
The first section fulfils administrative purposes, while the other three are technical in nature. The functions and duties of the survey wing are as follows:
● Cadastral survey.
● Survey and demarcation of the inter-state boundary.
● Maintenance of the Indo-Bangladesh boundary.
● Training for the Meghalaya Police Service (MPS) and Meghalaya Civil Services (MCS) officers.
● Training for the District and Land Records staff.
● Implementation of the metric cell scheme.
Revenue Branch
The Revenue Branch comes under the control of the respective Deputy Commissioners (DC) and Sub-divisional Officers (SDO) (Civil). These officials are the Principal Revenue Officers and Collectors of the specific districts and sub-divisions. The DC and the SDO are assisted by Revenue Officers from the MCS.
Meghalaya Survey School
The Meghalaya Survey School was established in 1974 to impart six months of training in Recorders Course. Its headquarters are in Tura, West Garo Hills District. It is directly supervised by the Additional Deputy Commissioner, Tura, who also serves as the school’s principal.
Why Are Meghalaya Land Records Not Available Online?
Many of the country’s state governments are digitising the age-old talukdari system under the National Land Records Modernisation Programme (NLRMP). Digitisation of records is necessary for transparency, accountability, and ease of access to land-related information. However, unlike other Indian states, Meghalaya hasn’t succeeded in launching its online mechanism for land records. There is no record of rights (RoR).
The DLRS is a separate department for managing the state’s land records and surveys, but there is no Meghalaya government-managed online portal. The reasons for this backlog are identified as follows:
- The state government does not own the land in Meghalaya. It belongs to the native tribal groups. Therefore, the state cannot levy land tax rates, land registration guidelines, or other land-related norms on these tribal groups and their respective lands.
- Meghalaya is home to a variety of cultures and communities that follow their own modes of communication. It is a challenge for the state government to introduce digital literacy to these tribes who prefer to use their methods of calculation and communication.
Conclusion
Land records are available offline in Meghalaya. However, the state is committed to digitising them under the centre’s NLRMP. Investing in real estate is beneficial in the long run, provided you make the decision after conducting adequate research and inquiries.
Keep in mind the above information about Meghalaya land records. Also, keep in mind how Tata Capital’s home loan options can make it easier for you to plan the investment. We offer flexible EMI options, competitive housing loan interest rates, a hassle-free application process, and specialised customer care.
14 November 2024
5 mins read
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