Cities must get geo-mapping done: SC

Mumbai: In a bid to prevent illegal constructions, the Supreme Court has directed that all cities in Maharashtra with a population of 50 lakh or more should get done geo-mapping of their municipal areas.

However, city planners have said that geo-mapping should have been carried out earlier and the order alone may not be able to curb such illegal constructions.

Geo-mapping or surveying of land and surface using GPS, affords detailed views of a site and its surrounding areas including roads, buildings and the natural landscape.

A bench of Justices Deepak Gupta and Aniruddha Bose observed that illegal constructions could be controlled if geo-mapping was carried out by satellites or drones as miscreants usually claimed that the said structures had been in existence for long.

The bench said, “It will be obligatory for all municipal corporations in the state of Maharashtra where the population is 50 lakh or more to get geo-mapping and geo­photography of the areas under their jurisdiction done within a period of one year.”

“Geo-mapping will also be done of an area of 10 kms from the boundary of such areas. The records should be maintained and updated by the municipal corporations within such time period as the municipal corporation deems fit, keeping in mind the specific circumstances of the area under its jurisdiction,” it added.

Sulakshana Mahajan, Mumbai-based urban planner, said, “Geo-mapping should be carried out in cities irrespective of their population as it helps in planning of overall development and provides an idea of their natural landscape as well. It may help but it is important to indulge locals and municipal and district officers to take action against illegal structures while ascertaining accountability.”