17 hours Ago
Pune: The state registration department has sanctioned around Rs21 crore to digitise nearly 2.25 lakh property documents stored as photo films in the photo registry department. The decision comes after the latter department warned about possible damage to these films, currently in cold storage.
The documents stored as films span over 58 years of property records. "While documents from 1985 to 2002 were scanned and are ready for digital conversion, the older photo films need special technical expertise," a senior registration official told TOI. Currently, of the total Rs200 crore budgetary allocation for the department, Rs21 crore will be allocated for this work.
State govt is expected to disburse the allocation in phases after it was announced early this year. "We expect Rs10 crore in the first phase and the rest in the second. We have sent a detailed proposal for the tender to state govt for approval as technical expertise is required for this work.
Once approved, we can start work," a senior registration department official told TOI on Tuesday. The tender proposal was sent recently and is expected to be cleared in Jan 2025, after which around a year will be required for the work, added the official. Technical experts will have to convert sensitive photo films into the digital format.
This initiative follows the successful digitisation of property documents post-2002, stated officials. "These records are crucial and need to be preserved properly. The digitisation will make them easily accessible while ensuring their long-term preservation," the official added.
Members of the department are hoping state govt clears the tender proposal early so that work can be finished by the end of next year. Officials explained that several documents could not be saved as they were written down in huge registers. These have now been stored in photo films in containers placed in AC rooms.
Meanwhile, the department has completed 96% of the process of scanning documents from 1985 to 2002, the official told TOI. On the proposal of digitising all records, efforts are on to upgrade the technology. "We moved first from paper to films and then to scanning copies.
Now, we aim to make the entire process digital and eventually web-based. Discussions are on with various consultants for the same," said another official. Stay updated with the latest news on Times of India .
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