Drone survey of Jayanagar properties begins

The drone-based survey of properties in Jayanagar 4th Block begins on Monday, with the revenue department embarking on the exercise for the first time since 1960.

The work of surveying all properties is being done in coordination with the Survey of India and is the first step towards creating and issuing urban property ownership record (UPOR) cards to all citizens.

Earlier, the department had planned to conduct a door-to-door survey, but now they will start with drone camera photography survey, which will assess the exterior dimensions of each property.

Munish Modgil, Commissioner, Survey, Settlement and Land Records, told DH that they were starting with technical survey, and not the physical one. With the help of drones, the latitude and longitude of each property will be noted and then co-related with what is on ground. This will also be verified with the existing original 1960 maps available with the department. If there are errors, a physical survey will follow.

The Survey of India is not charging any fee for the pilot study. Here, 23 lakh properties are being surveyed. The department aims to complete the drone survey of Jayanagar 4th Block in two days. If all goes well, the department aims to complete the entire exercise in a year.

The state government is keen on the process as was announced in the budget by Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy. The state government is also discussing allocating Rs 50 crore to resurvey all properties in the state.

Jayanagar was chosen for the pilot project as the area has limited illegal cases and hence, few technical glitches. The area is said to have the best land records and city survey details. “Once we are accurate with the system and eliminate all errors, work in other areas will continue. It is assumed that there is no problem with 80% of properties in the city. The remaining could be illegal,” Modgil said.

The idea of the exercise is to find deviations and issue property ownership cards to citizens. Municipalities collect property tax but do not issue ownership documents. They also do not provide any service for the tax collected. The revenue department is the only one to issue ownership documents which are essential in courts, said a senior department official.