Illegal houses on a sar in Tezpur. File picture

Guwahati, June 26: The Assam government has decided to appoint a competent private firm equipped with latest technologies to expedite cadastral survey in the state.

Cadastral surveys are carried out to document land ownership by demarcating boundaries and property lines.

An official source told The Telegraph today that the decision was taken because of the slow pace of the ongoing survey by the directorate of land records and surveys.

“The government wants to expedite the process and complete it in a time-bound manner. For this purpose, it has decided to engage a reputed firm or a consortium or association of surveyors with latest equipment, technical know-how and experience in carrying out cadastral survey,” the source said.

Based on the survey, maps, documents and sketches are prepared.

In the absence of a cadastral survey, the government cannot have correct and up-to-date land records of villages and towns, which may lead to land disputes and hinder implementation of land reform programmes.

Cadastral survey maps are also used by the state government to buttress its claim over areas of dispute with neighbouring states.

The state government had decided to carry out cadastral survey of areas bordering Arunachal Pradesh in Sadiya subdivision of Tinsukia district following reports of encroachment of land by the neighbouring state in 2012.

Several areas in the state, particularly the sar (riverine) areas, are yet to be surveyed.

“Cadastral survey in many areas in the states such as the sar areas in lower and central Assam districts, Majuli in Jorhat district and Sadiya sub-division in Tinsukia district are yet to be done,” the source said.

According to the source, the directorate of land records and surveys has not been able to carry out the survey at the desired pace because of shortage of staff and lack of modern technologies.

“At present, hardly 20 to 25 villages are surveyed in a year,” he said.

“Keeping in mind such hindrances, the state government decided to engage a private party to speed up the survey,” he said.

He said for selection of a private party the directorate of land records and surveys has invited expression of interest from competent parties.

“The interested parties will have to state the strategy and methodology they will adopt to carry out cadastral survey and in preparing maps. They will also have to submit details of their manpower strength and equipment/instruments. Moreover, they will have to furnish a brief note on international best practices of cadastral survey methodology,” he said.