In a major step towards modernizing urban land management in India, the central government-backed pilot program NAKSHA (National Geospatial Knowledge-based Land Survey of Urban Habitations) was launched in Barpeta Road, located in Assam’s Barpeta district, on Tuesday. This initiative, aimed at improving land management and ensuring accurate land records, is set to enhance transparency and efficiency in urban governance.
The launch event was attended by key officials, including Kaustav Kalita, ADC (Revenue), Nirmal Jyoti Sarmah, CO, Barnagar, and Priyanku Baruah, EO Barpeta Road MB, among others. During the ceremony, attendees were shown a video illustrating the NAKSHA program’s execution and how drones will be used to map urban land. The program’s pilot phase will be implemented across 152 urban local bodies (ULBs) spread across 26 states and 3 Union Territories (UTs). Barpeta Road is one of the ten ULBs in Assam selected for this ambitious project.
NAKSHA Program: A Step Toward Modernizing Urban Land Records
The NAKSHA initiative is spearheaded by the Department of Land Resources under the Ministry of Rural Development. It is designed to modernize and update land records in urban areas, utilizing geospatial technology to create more accurate and reliable documentation of land ownership. The program aims to majorly improve urban land management, thus streamlining land governance and ensuring greater transparency.
The Survey of India has been designated as the technical partner for the NAKSHA program. The agency is responsible for conducting aerial surveys and providing orthorectified imagery, which will help in mapping urban land areas accurately. This geospatial data will be integrated into land records, which can then be used to manage land disputes and resolve issues related to land encroachments.
Enhancing Transparency in Urban Land Management
One of the primary goals of the NAKSHA program is to bring transparency to urban land management in India. By leveraging advanced geospatial technology, the program aims to eliminate discrepancies in urban land records, ensuring that documentation is up-to-date and accurate. The system will make it easier for citizens to access their land records, reducing the chances of fraudulent activities related to land ownership and management.
Kaustav Kalita, ADC (Revenue), highlighted the importance of NAKSHA in enhancing transparency. He emphasized that the initiative would provide a more robust system for tracking land ownership and solving problems associated with outdated or inaccurate records.
The Role of Geospatial Technology and Drones in Land Mapping
One of the unique features of the NAKSHA program is its integration of geospatial technology, including the use of drones for mapping land. These drones will be used to capture high-resolution aerial imagery of urban areas, providing real-time data for land surveys. The use of drones will significantly enhance the accuracy and efficiency of land mapping, ensuring that all land parcels are covered and their boundaries properly defined.
The integration of geospatial technology will allow urban local bodies (ULBs) to have access to updated land maps that are essential for urban planning, land dispute resolution, and resource management. Additionally, this technological approach is expected to reduce the human errors that often occur during manual land surveying.
NAKSHA’s Impact on Assam and Beyond
With Barpeta Road being one of the 152 pilot ULBs in this nationwide program, Assam stands to benefit significantly from NAKSHA. The program will help in documenting and managing land records more effectively, ensuring that the state’s urban areas grow in an organized and well-planned manner. The initiative is expected to play a vital role in resolving long-standing land issues, especially in urban localities.
Furthermore, the launch of NAKSHA in Assam is expected to have far-reaching effects beyond the state. As the program progresses and expands, it will serve as a model for other regions in the country to follow. By improving the accuracy and transparency of land records, the NAKSHA program will contribute to overall urban development and good governance across India.
The launch of the NAKSHA program in Barpeta Road, Assam, marks a major milestone in the modernization of urban land management. By utilizing geospatial technology and drones, the program promises to bring greater accuracy, transparency, and efficiency to land records in urban areas. As NAKSHA expands to other ULBs in Assam and across India, it will play a crucial role in improving urban governance, facilitating urban development, and resolving land-related disputes.
With the government’s push for smart cities and sustainable urban growth, initiatives like NAKSHA are expected to revolutionize urban planning and land management across the country, setting the stage for a more organized and data-driven urban future.
