The Karnataka government officially rolled out its ambitious Unified Land Acquisition System (ULMS) Data Module on Monday. This new digital platform aims to significantly streamline and modernize the state’s entire land acquisition process, promising enhanced transparency, efficiency, and accountability in both new acquisition proposals and existing legal disputes.
Crafted by the Centre for Smart Governance within the e-Governance Department, the ULMS module is the result of collaborative efforts, incorporating valuable insights from a specialized committee of the Revenue Department, senior officials, Special Land Acquisition Officers (SLAOs), and on-the-ground field personnel.
A Unified Digital Hub for Land Acquisition
This innovative system will serve as a central, integrated platform for a wide array of land-acquiring agencies across Karnataka. This includes crucial departments and bodies such as Revenue, Irrigation, Urban Development, Bangalore Development Authority (BDA), Bangalore Metropolitan Region Development Authority (BMRDA), Metro, K-Ride, KSHIP, Karnataka Industrial Areas Development Board (KIADB), Karnataka Housing Board (KHB), and the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI). Users will benefit from a consolidated dashboard that provides real-time updates on the status of all land acquisition proposals.
Officials have confirmed that the ULMS module will meticulously manage the complete acquisition lifecycle. This encompasses everything from the initial proposal submission and the final award of land, to the disbursement of compensation and the execution of rehabilitation measures. All processes are designed to align strictly with the principles and provisions of the Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act, 2013. Furthermore, seamless integration with existing systems like Bhoomi, e-Swathu, e-Aasthi, Kaveri 2.0, and Khajane II will guarantee that all data utilized is authentic and directly sourced from the relevant departments.
During the launch, Revenue Minister Krishna Byre Gowda emphasized, “With ULMS, Karnataka is setting an impressive new standard for citizen-centric governance. This platform assures complete transparency for landowners and affected families, while also equipping officials with a robust and efficient workflow. It expertly balances the state’s critical development requirements with the fundamental rights of its citizens.”
Strategic Phased Implementation
The Minister further elaborated on the strategic rollout, stating, “This launch marks the initial phase of a broader implementation plan. Subsequent modules, featuring integration with various advanced technologies, will be introduced progressively. The goal is for all districts and land-acquiring bodies across Karnataka to gradually adopt this platform, thereby establishing a consistent and legally sound approach to land acquisition throughout the state.”