ZCZC
BSS-33
CLIMATE-RELATED PROJECTS
Ministry of Land implementing climate-related projects
DHAKA, June 05, 2021 (BSS) -The Ministry of Land is implementing climate-related projects such as “Guchchogram 2nd Phase (Climate Victims Rehabilitation)” and “Char Development and Settlement Project-4”.
Besides, two projects related to climate have already been implemented under the Ministry of Land. These are: “Strengthening Access to Land and Property Rights to All Citizens of Bangladesh” and “Strengthening Governance Management Project: Digital Land Management System”, a press release said here today.
This information appeared in the “Climate Budget Report 2021-22” of the Budget Documents for the financial year 2021-22, the release added.
A total of Tk 2,228.38 crore has been allocated for the Ministry of Land in the 2021-22 financial year, including development and operating expenditure, of which 4.84 percent or Tk 107.94 crore has been allocated for climate-related works.
Finance Minister AHM Mustafa Kamal unveiled a proposed budget of Tk 603,681 crore for the 2021-22 fiscal year in the national parliament Last Thursday, June 3, 2021.
The Finance Division under the Ministry of Finance has released the above budget documents.
Among the functions mentioned in the budget structure of the Ministry of Land are two related to climate, “Updating land management laws’, and “Rehabilitation and development of socio-economic conditions of destitute landless, and underprivileged low-income population”.
Land Ministry’s medium-term strategic objectives that address the negative impacts of climate change are “Modernisation of land management”, and “Rehabilitation and improvement of the socio-economic conditions of the landless ultra-poor”.
Land Minister Saifuzzaman Chowdhury is one of the members of the 12-member Delta Governance Council headed by the Prime Minister to provide necessary advice and direction for the implementation of the 100-year master plan ‘Delta Plan 2100’.
One of the objectives of the ‘Delta Plan 2100’ is to reduce the risks of climate change.
On the other hand, the matter of automation of land management came up in the budget speech for the financial year 2021-20.
It was mentioned in the speech that, automation in land management will be done across the country for the purpose of mutation, payment of land development tax, collection of purchase, and making delivery of all services quick and free from hassle.
All services related to land will be brought under automation through 18 software.
It was further mentioned in the budget speech that, to ensure the protection of agricultural land and food security, national digital land zoning based on Mouzas and plots will be conducted across the country.
If digital land zoning is made according to the nature of the use of land, decisions can be made about the protection of agricultural land in the country and it will be possible to ensure optimal use of land.
Steps have been taken to bring all the revenue court cases in the country under an integrated networking system. This will give an impetus to the disposal of cases in all the revenue courts of the country and alleviate the sufferings of the people.
It is to be noted that the Ministry of Land has undertaken the task of transforming all land services into digital services to execute the vision 2021 and 2041 of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
The Ministry of Land is working to implement Digital Land Management under the leadership of Land Minister Saifuzzaman Chowdhury and the supervision of Land Secretary Md Mustafizur Rahman.
In addition, the budget speech further mentioned that the ‘Land Registration Management Automation’ project has been launched to digitize the land registration system. Once the project is implemented, citizens will get land registration services electronically.
As it will be based on ICT, it will make the land registration process easier, enhance transparency and reduce land disputes.
The Department of Registration under the Ministry of Law conducts the land registration work in coordination with the field level land office under the Ministry of Land.
At the initiative of the Ministry of Land, the Land Mutation automatically based on Land Title Deed has already been introduced on an experimental basis.
In this system, there is no need to receive the application separately from the recipient of the documents/deed by the Upazila Land Office or Circle Office.
BSS/PR/SRH/KU/1922 HRS