Himachal Plans Major Land Record Reform, Settlement Cycle May Shrink from 40 Years to Just 5
In a move aimed at modernising land administration and reducing long-pending boundary disputes, the Himachal Pradesh government is considering a major overhaul of its land settlement system. The proposal seeks to conduct land settlement every five years instead of the existing practice of once every 40 years.
The proposed reforms were discussed in a high-level meeting chaired by Revenue Minister Jagat Singh Negi at the Secretariat, attended by officials from the Revenue, Settlement and Land Records departments. Recognising the need for faster and more efficient land management, the government has decided to form a committee to review the existing settlement rules and recommend changes.
The committee, which will include experienced retired settlement officers, is expected to be constituted within the next 10 days and submit its recommendations within a month. According to the Revenue Minister, the current settlement process often takes years to complete, and the government is determined to shorten this timeline with the help of technology.
One of the key concerns behind the reform is the huge gap between settlement exercises in many districts. Chamba has not undergone a land settlement since 1951, Mandi since 1959, and Kangra since 1970. Similar delays in other regions have resulted in outdated records, frequent boundary disputes and difficulties for landowners seeking demarcation.
To address these challenges, the government plans to introduce modern surveying technologies such as drones, DGPS, rovers, LiDAR scanners, laser distance meters and electronic data collection systems. These tools are expected to improve the accuracy of surveys, speed up fieldwork and help create reliable digital land records.
Officials believe that digitised maps and regularly updated records will significantly reduce disputes over land boundaries, which currently force many residents to make repeated visits to Patwar and Tehsil offices. Improved record-keeping is also expected to enhance transparency and make revenue services more citizen-friendly.
The committee will review provisions in the existing settlement rules that contribute to delays and suggest reforms related to survey procedures, manpower deployment, use of technology and preparation of land records.
If implemented, the proposed changes could mark one of the biggest reforms in Himachal Pradesh’s land management system in decades, bringing greater accuracy, transparency and convenience to landowners while helping the government maintain up-to-date revenue records.
