The Revenue Department is accelerating its flagship ‘Bhu-Suraksha Project’, which aims to digitise and preserve land-related documents, including those from land revenue, survey, and registration departments.
To date, the department has successfully scanned 15.5 crore pages of records from tahsildar offices. With an objective to complete the scanning and digitization of approximately 90 crore additional pages by year-end, the department has issued notices to 192 tahsildars for not adhering to the required pace of work. These officials have been instructed to achieve their daily average scanning goals by the end of the month.
A Revenue Department official stated, After scanning, the documents will be reviewed and approved by Shirastedars (record officers) before being uploaded with digital signatures. The department intends to introduce a service within two months that will enable citizens to access these digital documents online.
Revenue Minister Krishna Byre Gowda noted that only Category A (permanent) and Category B (to be preserved for 30 years) records are being scanned and digitized under this initiative to ensure their long-term preservation and to mitigate the risk of damage or loss of essential land documents.
Revenue Department Commissioner Pommala Sunil Kumar emphasized that the digitization of valuable land records aims to make them available online, thereby helping to prevent fraud, ensuring immediate access for future generations, and fulfilling legal and official requirements.
The scanning initiative commenced in February 2024 across 31 taluks, one from each district, as a pilot program. Among these, 11 taluks, including Naragunda, Chincholi, and Molakalmuru, have successfully completed the process. However, Bengaluru Urban is lagging behind, positioned 29th out of 31 in terms of progress, with only 16.91 lakh pages scanned.
In an effort to expedite implementation, the department has warned that it may reduce the salaries of officers and data entry operators accountable for the delays. A recent assessment indicated that 36 tahsildars were processing fewer than 1,000 pages daily, leading to the issuance of show-cause notices. An official stated, “At present, the department receives between 400 and 500 requests each month for different scanned records. The anticipated digital distribution platform aims to enhance accessibility, speed, and transparency for the public
