On the occasion of Kerala’s 66th Foundation Day, the state government has launched Digital Reserve to speed up delivery of land-related services to the people.
Why did the Kerala government start the Reserve?
- In 1966, the Government of Kerala started the process of land resurvey. However, it was never completed due to lack of modern technology and limitations of traditional systems.
- Therefore, the Kerala State Government has launched a digital land reserve project called Ente Bhumi (My Land) to identify and issue land titles to more than three lakh landless families.
- It was launched as part of the state government’s policy of “Land for All, Records for All Land, All Services Smart”. The reserve will be completed within four years. Out of 1,666 villages in Kerala, 1,550 will undergo digital survey. The estimated cost of this project is Rs 858.42 crore. Of this, Rs 438.44 crore has been allocated from the Rebuild Kerala Initiative.
How will the “My Bhoomi” reserve project help in the future?
- The resurvey will help strengthen land records and make data collection for agricultural statistics more efficient.
- Revenue and Registration Departments will provide timely land related services through single window online system.
- This will help the government to keep land records up-to-date so no more resurveys are needed.
- A comprehensive geographic information system (GIS) can set up a database for use by government departments.
How to conduct a digital survey?
- The nodal agency for the implementation of the Reserve Scheme is the Department of Survey and Land Records. 4,700 personnel will be deployed to conduct the digital survey.
- Modern instruments like real time kinematic (RTK) rover and robotic total station for this survey. 70% of land will be surveyed using RTK rover, 20% of land will be surveyed using robotic total station and 10% will be surveyed using drone technology.
