The Hindu : Front Page : ‘Bhoomi Keralam’ project for completion of resurvey

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Thursday, Oct 16, 2008
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‘Bhoomi Keralam’ project for completion of resurvey

Special Correspondent

To be completed in three years with Central funding

V.S. Achuthanandan briefed the media about the project.

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Cabinet on Wednesday approved a project for completion of resurvey in the State.

Chief Minister V.S. Achuthanandan told journalists after the Cabinet meeting that the resurvey would be completed within three years under the project named ‘Bhoomi Keralam.’ The Central government would be providing funding for the project.

Revenue Minister K.P. Rajendran said in a statement that the government had formed the ‘Kerala Land Information Mission’ for carrying out the project. The Mission would be exclusively devoted to resurvey and computerisation of land records. An empowered committee chaired by the Chief Secretary would oversee the functioning of the Mission. The committee would have the Secretaries in charge of Revenue, Finance, Taxes, Planning and Forests, the Commissioner for Land Revenue and the Director of Surveys as members.

The Minister said the Mission would immediately take up survey of 27,000 hectares to be assigned to tribals and the land in the possession of Harrisons Malayalam, and other works entrusted by the government including survey of government land in the possession of encroachers.

It would take up resurvey of 31 villages in Thiruvananthapuram district under a scheme funded by the Centre.

The Mission would use aerial photometry for preparation of survey records. Roads, streams, backwaters and other open spaces would be photographed for this purpose from low-flying aircraft. Invisible boundaries would be determined by field survey and incorporated into survey records prepared using the aerial survey.

The Survey Department would provide modern equipment and vehicles and depute staff to the Mission on option basis. Besides, officials from the Survey of India and experts in remote sensing, geographical information systems, chartered surveying, e-governance and project management would be posted to the Mission. Officials deputed to the Mission from the Survey Department would have legal powers under the Survey and Boundaries Act.

Mr. Rajendran said that about Rs.4.5 crore would be available from the Central government for the Mission in the initial year. Additional funds needed would be provided from Rs.5 crore earmarked for resurvey in the State Budget.

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