Mapping Complete for 14,866 Villages in Gujarat Under Swamitva Scheme

Gandhinagar, November 2 (Daily Kiran) : The Survey of India has successfully completed the mapping of 14,866 villages in Gujarat as part of the central government’s ‘Swamitva’ scheme. This initiative aims to provide legal ownership documents to rural families, establishing a geospatial foundation for land rights.

This mapping project is a key component of the broader efforts by the Gujarat, Daman, and Diu Department of Land Administration, Infrastructure Planning, and Urban Development. The Geospatial Directorate based in Gandhinagar is also involved in mapping projects under the ‘Amrut 2.0’ scheme, which includes 55 cities and the Mumbai-Ahmedabad high-speed rail corridor.

Siddhant Sen, Director of the Geospatial Directorate, highlighted the historical significance of the Survey of India, which has played a crucial role in the country’s geographic mapping since its establishment in 1767. He noted that the institution began with the ‘Great Trigonometrical Survey’, where surveyors used tools like the theodolite to measure vast areas, traversing dense forests, deserts, and rugged terrains.

This ambitious scientific survey laid the groundwork for various subsequent mapping efforts, including the scientific measurement of Mount Everest’s height. Sen also mentioned that the Survey of India contributed to the printing of the original Constitution of India.

The Geospatial Directorate is responsible for mapping across Gujarat, Daman, and Diu, covering a diverse geographic area from the Rann of Kutch to the coastal regions of Saurashtra and the Gulf of Khambhat. Accurate geographic data is essential for planned development, especially as the nation works toward the goal of a ‘developed India’ by 2047.

To facilitate mapping and infrastructure projects, the department has established horizontal and vertical control points throughout Gujarat. These reference points aid engineers and government agencies in identifying flood-prone areas, assessing dam safety, and planning roads, bridges, and canals.

Among its historical assets, the 1890 ‘Great Trigonometrical Survey’ benchmark remains significant. Tide gauge observatories located in Vadinar, Porbandar, Okha, and Kandla monitor and record changes in sea level.

The Directorate has also mapped Gujarat’s international borders and publishes political maps of India and Gujarat in English, Hindi, and Gujarati. To meet modern surveying needs, 102 Continuously Operating Reference Stations (CORS) have been set up in Gujarat and Daman-Diu, providing real-time positioning services with centimeter-level accuracy.

According to the Directorate, 1,042 users have registered to utilize this service. In addition to rural mapping under the ‘Swamitva’ scheme, the department is also contributing to urban planning and infrastructure development. Under ‘Amrut 2.0’, mapping efforts for GIS-based development plans and master plans have commenced for 55 cities.

These maps are expected to assist in planning water supply, sewage systems, urban infrastructure, and green spaces. The Directorate is also working on mapping for the Mumbai-Ahmedabad high-speed rail corridor for the Department of Urban Planning and Evaluation.

Another significant project involves completing a LIDAR-based survey over 121 square kilometers in Kakrapar for the Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited, with plans for an additional survey of 183 square kilometers underway. Meanwhile, the ‘Naksha’ project, jointly implemented by the central land resources department and the Gujarat government, has successfully mapped five cities to modernize urban land and property records and enhance the accuracy and transparency of ownership documents.

To enhance its mapping capabilities, the Directorate employs technologies such as drones, LIDAR, Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS), and Geographic Information Systems (GIS). Since its inception in 1767, the Survey of India has been dedicated to the scientific measurement and mapping of the country’s land, supporting various activities, including defining rural property rights, urban development planning, infrastructure projects, and national security initiatives.