The state government is extending the orbit of e-bhuchitra to stop unauthorised selling of land that has being mortgaged.
The state Land and Land Reforms department has almost completed the digitisation of land records and even the common man can easily access the same to obtain information about a particular plot through e-bhuchitra.
Details of plots in 341 blocks in the state are just a click away. Only five blocks cannot be connected through the system due to certain issues like poor Internet network.
Earlier, obtaining information about a particular plot was of great difficulty but the step taken to make the land records available online through e-bhuchitra by the Mamata Banerjee-government has simplified the process to a great extent and made it transparent as well.
After the success of the state government in timely completion of e-bhuchitra project, this measure has been taken to ensure that no land gets sold while it is already being mortgaged.
In many cases it was found that some had managed to sell their plots that they had already mortgaged to a bank in order to take loan. With no information available to the common man, it becomes difficult for him to figure out whether the plot he is buying has been mortgaged or not.
Later, when the matter comes to light, he finds himself in deep trouble as he has already paid the money for the plot. The banks also face the brunt. In a bid to help people not to fall into such traps, a project has been mulled in which information as to whether a plot has been mortgaged or not will also be made available online along with other land records.
According to a senior government official, a sign will appear on the screen against a particular plot that has been mortgaged to the bank. The sign will show that the plot has also been mortgaged and people will not buy the same.
The digitisation of land records was carried out by the National Informatics Centre (NIC). Hence, the state government has approached NIC to create a software using which the information whether a land has been mortgaged or not can be made available online. There was also a round of discussion with the State Level Banker's Committee (SLBC) in this regard.
The state government will be giving a limited access to the banks to update immediately after a plot has been mortgaged.
Registrars will get the details at the click of a mouse and will be able to stall the malpractice.