Thiruvananthapuram: The resurvey of the Thycaud village beginning here on May 23 will be a massive exercise in public participation.

V. Sivankutty, MLA, and District Collector N. Ayyappan told a press conference here on Monday that the resurvey would be a pilot project utilising modern technology to prepare sketches of each landholding.

A coordination committee chaired by Mr. Sivankutty has been set up. A series of ward-level conventions has been planned to ensure people's involvement in the resurvey and eliminate complaints. Landowners, residents' associations, neighbourhood groups, arts and sports clubs, and representatives of various political and social organisations have been invited to participate in the conventions scheduled to be held from May 16 to 20.

Mr. Ayyappan said the Revenue officials involved in the resurvey would use Total Stations and Global Positioning System (GPS) equipment to map the village. As many as 25 GPS coordinates have been established in the village. The computerised sketches will be published on the Internet.

The National Informatics Centre (NIC) will also establish touch screen kiosks at the Thycaud village office and the survey office at Karamana where the sketches can be accessed by the public.

Mr. Ayyappan said each landholder would be provided with a Record of Right to establish ownership. "Every land transaction after the resurvey will be recorded in the village register using digital technology," he added.

As many as 90 surveyors and 13 head surveyors have been deployed for the resurvey. The team has started demarcating the landholdings. The demarcation of the Karamana, Secretariat, Vazhuthacaud, Thycaud and Arannoor wards will be completed this week. A computerised list of landowners has been prepared. The list can be accessed on the Internet and through the touch screen kiosks from next week. Applications for correction can be submitted to the village office before May 31. There are an estimated 20,000 landholders in the Thycaud village spread over 552 hectares.

Mr. Sivankutty said the resurvey would make it easier to identify encroachments on Government land. "Though large-scale encroachment on riverbanks and canals are blamed for the flooding of low-lying areas in the city, the lack of proper land records has often hampered action against land grabbers. Once the computerised sketches are available, stern action can be initiated to evict encroachments," he said.

Minister for Revenue K.P. Rajendran will inaugurate the pilot project at a function at Mettukada junction here on May 23.

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