January 8: The Land Commission Secretariat is organizing a series of workshops to sensitize dzongkhags officials and grassroots leaders on the new Land Act.

The first such workshop is being held in Paro.

The Land Act of 2007, passed by 87th session of National Assembly came into force from January 1, 2008.

Officials from the National Land Commission Secretariat said the revised Land Act has many amendments, which were not there in the Land Act of 1979.

There are also other important amendments such as nationalization of Tsamdro and sokshing. Individuals who own sokhings and tsamdro will be compensated by the government.

Under the new Act, land transaction taking place within the municipality now will be approved by the National Land Commission Secretariat. Landowners also need not go to court to transfer the Thram. It can be now done at the gewog level.

Local leaders said the new Land Act wil save them the hassle of going through what they called unnecessary and lengthy process.

During the three day workshop, officials from the Land Commission Secretariat will brief the participants on the amendments in the new Land Act.

The Secretary of the National Land Commission Secretariat, Sangay Khandu, said the workshop will help grassroots leaders and dzongkhag officials understand the Act. He said this will help prevent misinterpretation of the rules and regulations of the Act in Future.

The National Land Commission Secretariat wills conduct re-cadastral survey in all the 20 dzongkhags over the next three years. They hope to start the pilot survey by April this year.

Sangay Khandu said it is important for the people in gewog and dzongkhag to have a clear understanding of the Land Act as the survey and resurvey has to be done within the framework of the new Land Act.