Delhi Development Authority Embarks on Drone Survey Mission to Protect Government Lands

The Delhi Development Authority has signed a tripartite MoU with the Municipal Corporation of Delhi and Survey of India to conduct a drone survey to accurately determine the status of government lands and curb encroachments in the National Capital. Lt. Governor VK Saxena spearheaded this initiative.

In an unprecedented move to combat the ambiguity surrounding the status of lands owned by various government entities and to safeguard them from future encroachment, the Delhi Development Authority (DDA) signed a tripartite memorandum of understanding (MoU) on Thursday with the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) and Survey of India (SoI).

Lt. Governor and Chairman of DDA, VK Saxena, emphasized the urgent need for precise ground data. He personally supervised the collaboration, especially after it was highlighted during multiple review meetings and Courts' urgings. The trial run of this project over 50 square kilometers displayed promising results, enabling the real-time detection and assessment of land status.

The collected aerial imagery is set to revolutionize land monitoring processes, enabling authorities to instantly recognize, map, and act upon illegal encroachments. With the comprehensive geospatial data expected from this survey, various government departments—including the Revenue, Housing, and Environment Departments—will benefit from enhanced resource utilization and target-specific interventions.

The signed MoU delineates specific tasks such as data acquisition, geo-referencing, and vectorization. Reportedly, this initiative will streamline operations for DDA and MCD, promoting planned urban development as stipulated by the Master Plan of Delhi (MPD).

(With inputs from agencies.)