Web GIS Land Records Portal to Boost Transparency, Good Governance
TAUSEEF AHMAD
LEH, Dec 29: In a major leap towards technology-driven governance and administrative transparency, the Union Territory of Ladakh on Sunday joined the Digital India Mission with the launch of the Ladakh Land Records Web GIS Portal, a landmark initiative aimed at modernising land administration and delivering citizen-centric services.
The portal was formally launched by the Hon’ble Lieutenant Governor of Ladakh, Shri Kavinder Gupta, who described the initiative as a transformative step towards good governance, transparency and ease of living for the people of the region. Developed by the Revenue Department, the portal will enable citizens to access land records and related services online, significantly reducing the need for physical visits to government offices.
Addressing the gathering, the Lieutenant Governor said that land records form the backbone of any efficient administration. He emphasised that clear, updated and authentic land records are essential not only for safeguarding citizens’ property rights but also for effective development planning and informed policy decision-making. By digitising land records through a Web GIS-based platform, Ladakh is ensuring that the benefits of technology directly reach the common people.
Shri Kavinder Gupta expressed satisfaction over the phased digitisation of land records across revenue villages in Ladakh. He said the initiative would enhance transparency, minimise disputes related to land ownership, improve service delivery and strengthen public trust in the administration. Importantly, he noted that modern survey techniques are being used to capture actual ground realities, ensuring a high level of accuracy, reliability and legal clarity, which is particularly crucial in Ladakh’s geographically vast and challenging terrain.
Highlighting the broader vision behind the initiative, the Lieutenant Governor said the portal reflects the Central Government’s unwavering commitment to the development of Ladakh, in line with Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi’s vision of Digital India, Inclusive Development and Ease of Living. He underlined that extending robust digital infrastructure and citizen-focused services to remote and border areas remains a top priority of the government.
“Making the administration more responsive, efficient and transparent through the use of technology is at the core of our governance approach,” Shri Kavinder said.
Quoting former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, the Lieutenant Governor remarked that true good governance lies in the protection of citizens’ rights, accountability, transparency and sensitivity towards public needs. He added that initiatives like the digital land records portal and transparent recruitment processes are living examples of how governance can be made responsive, efficient and future-ready, thereby reinforcing people’s faith in public institutions.
Congratulating Chief Secretary Dr. Pawan Kotwal, the Revenue Department, district administrations and all officials associated with the project, Shri Kavinder Gupta expressed confidence that the portal would prove to be user-friendly, transparent and highly effective in meeting public needs.
Concluding his address, the Lieutenant Governor asserted that such visionary, technology-driven initiatives would go a long way in building a trust-based and accountable governance framework in Ladakh. With cooperation from all stakeholders—including the administration, technical teams and citizens—he said the initiative would help Ladakh emerge as a model of good governance, setting new benchmarks in transparency, development and public trust.
Speaking on the occasion, Joint Secretary, Department of Land Resources, Government of India, Shri Kunal Satyarthi, lauded the UT Administration for launching the advanced portal, noting that only a handful of states and Union Territories in the country have achieved such progress. Calling it a “dream come true” for the people of Ladakh, he also informed the gathering about NAKSHA (NAtional Geospatial Knowledge-based Land Survey of Urban Habitations)—a one-year pilot project under the Digital India Land Records Modernisation Programme (DILRMP) aimed at revolutionising urban land records—and invited Ladakh to participate in the initiative.
Chief Secretary Dr. Pawan Kotwal highlighted the universal importance of land records and said the Revenue Department has been undertaking digitisation in Ladakh under central schemes such as SVAMITVA and DILRMP, in accordance with Government of India directives. He clarified that documents generated through the portal would carry legal validity and could be used for purposes such as availing bank loans. He stressed the need to achieve saturation of digital land records across the Union Territory for maximum public benefit.
Providing technical insights, Assistant Commissioner Revenue, Leh, Shabbir Hussain, informed that the portal currently offers 18 land record-related services. He also gave a live demonstration showcasing the simple, seamless and transparent online process for applying for services such as fard intikhab.
Deputy Commissioner, Leh, Shri Romil Singh Donk, delivered the vote of thanks.
The event was attended by several senior officials and dignitaries, including Executive Councillor, LAHDC Kargil, Kacho Mohd Feroz; Principal Secretary Sanjeev Khirwar; Administrative Secretaries Shashanka Ala, Bhanu Prabha and Moses Kunzang; Special Secretary (Law) Qureshi Tariq Mahmood; Deputy Commissioner Kargil Rakesh Kumar; ADDC Leh; State Informatics Officer Sunil Kaul; tehsildars, naib tehsildars, officials from NIC, and other senior officers.
