India

Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan highlights importance of digitized land records for urban planning

Synopsis

Union Rural Development Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan emphasized the importance of digitally updated land records for optimizing resources and helping policy-making during the inauguration of an international workshop on modern surveying technologies. He announced the government's push for digitization under the Digital India Land Records Modernization Programme (DILRMP) and highlighted a pilot project, NAKSHA, aimed at creating urban land records in over 100 cities within a year, followed by a nationwide survey in five years. Chouhan noted that aerial photography and GPS technology would enhance land surveys, while Manoj Joshi confirmed the Survey of India as the technical partner for these initiatives.

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At a recently held event, Union Rural Development Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan stated that digitally updated and transparent land records enhance the optimization of land resources and facilitate information sharing with various agencies to aid in policy-making and planning. While virtually inaugurating an international workshop focused on the use of modern technologies for surveying and resurveying urban land records, Chouhan mentioned that the government is advancing the digitization and upkeep of land records under the Digital India Land Records Modernization Programme (DILRMP).

Highlighting the significance of maintaining quality land records, Chouhan emphasized that digitally updated and transparent records enhance the optimization of land resources and enable the sharing of information with various agencies to support policy-making and planning. He noted that seamless access to land records is essential for a strong property record and tax administration, as it improves the effectiveness and efficiency of public service delivery through various schemes implemented by the Centre and the states.

The minister further highlighted the necessity for close collaboration between the Department of Land Resources within the Ministry of Rural Development and state governments. Chouhan also conveyed his approval of a pilot initiative called the "National Geo-Spatial Knowledge Based Land Survey of Urban Habitations" (NAKSHA), conducted by the Department of Land Resources, which aims to establish land records in urban areas.

The pilot project was set to be launched in over 100 cities and towns across all states and Union Territories, with an expected completion time frame of one year. Following this, a comprehensive survey was planned to encompass all urban areas in the country over a span of five years. Chouhan noted that aerial photography combined with 3D imagery serves as a valuable resource for urban planning, emphasizing the importance of improving drainage and flood management systems in light of local rainfall and flood conditions.

The minister stated that aerial photography combined with precise GPS coordinates would expedite the land survey process, ultimately assisting in property tax assessments, enhancing transportation systems, planning for drainage and flood management, and developing master plans for urban areas. He also suggested that the workshop should share best practices from around the world regarding these issues. Meanwhile, Manoj Joshi, the Secretary in the Department of Land Resources, mentioned that the Survey of India, the central engineering agency responsible for mapping and surveying, would serve as the technical partner for all urban area surveys.

The initiative led by Union Rural Development Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan represents a significant step toward modernizing land records in India. By leveraging advanced technologies like aerial photography and GPS, the government aims to streamline the surveying process and enhance urban planning. The collaboration between the Department of Land Resources and state governments is crucial for the success of the pilot project and the subsequent nationwide survey. As these efforts unfold, the anticipated improvements in property tax assessments and public service delivery will likely create a more efficient framework for managing land resources, benefiting both citizens and policymakers alike.

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