Since the launch of the National Land Records Modernisation Programme (NLRMP) by the Government of India (now the Digital India Land Records Modernisation Programme (DILRMP)) in August 2008, land and property records have been a part of important administrative discussions. As is the case with most of India, land records in Maharashtra are largely limited to agricultural areas, while built up or abadi areas, termed as ‘gaothan’ areas in rural Maharashtra have minimal property records. The Government of Maharashtra (GoM) has initiated surveys of gaothan areas (the statutory framework in Maharashtra refers to these as ‘city surveys’) using drone technology to map properties and establish accurate, up-to-date maps accompanying textual records.
This policy brief explores the level of efficiency and suitability of drone surveys for surveying gaothan areas.