Land Resources Dept, ADB explore partnership on land governance, watershed management

The Department of Land Resources and the Asian Development Bank explored collaboration in land governance, digital land records, and watershed management through technical assistance, policy support, and knowledge sharing.

The Department of Land Resources (DoLR) and the Asian Development Bank (ADB) on Thursday explored avenues for collaboration in land governance, digital land records and watershed management, with officials discussing technical assistance, policy support and knowledge sharing, the Rural Development Ministry said in a statement.

The discussions took place during a meeting between DoLR Secretary Narendra Bhooshan and an ADB delegation led by Country Director Mio Oka.

Bhooshan highlighted the Centre's ongoing land governance reforms and digital initiatives, saying efficient land administration and optimal use of land resources were critical for accelerating economic growth and ensuring inclusive development.

He outlined progress under the Digital India Land Records Modernisation Programme (DILRMP), noting that digitisation of Records of Rights had reached near saturation in several states and Union Territories.

The secretary said the government was preparing to roll out 'DILRMP 3.0', aimed at strengthening land governance through technological interventions, dynamic updating of land records and greater integration of land-related databases.

Bhooshan also highlighted progress in generating 'Unique Land Parcel Identification Numbers (ULPINs)', or ''Bhu-Aadhaar'', stating that around 66 per cent of India's agricultural land parcels had already been assigned ULPINs.

On watershed development, Bhooshan stressed the importance of climate-resilient land and water management for improving agricultural productivity and strengthening rural livelihoods. He called for innovative financing models, technology-based interventions and convergence-driven approaches to scale up watershed programmes.

The two sides exchanged views on global best practices in land administration, digital governance and sustainable natural resource management, including the use of geospatial systems, remote sensing and data-driven planning.

ADB Country Director Mio Oka briefed officials on the bank's ongoing projects in India and its engagement with state governments. She highlighted ADB's work in digital agriculture, climate resilience, watershed management and institutional capacity building, and expressed interest in collaborating with DoLR in areas of shared priority.

According to the statement, both sides discussed future cooperation through technical assistance, policy support, capacity building and knowledge-sharing initiatives aimed at strengthening sustainable land and watershed management systems in India.