After Adarsh, satellite mapping of prime properties in Mumbai

MUMBAI - Hoping to prevent scams like the Adarsh Co-operative Housing Society, the Maharashtra government is contemplating measures likes satellite mapping of all prime properties in Mumbai and determining their exact status and ownership.

According to a high-ranking government official, the proposal involves satellite mapping of all prime areas ranging from Cuffe Parade, Colaba, Nariman Point, Worli, Wadala, Bandra, Andheri, Jogeshwari, Goregaon, Borivli and other suburbs.

After mapping of the properties, the authorities would determine the exact ownership nature - whether they are private properties, or owned by the Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai, or state government properties, or owned by central government departments or agencies.

The official said that after determining the exact ownership nature, the government plans to make proper maps of the same, prepare the ownership proof and then issue property cards to the respective owners.

The authorities would also keep electronic copies of all relevant documents connected with each prime property in the city to prevent theft or misplacing of important papers after the Adarsh episode in which four documents are reported missing.

Surprisingly, till now, no accurate maps of any prime property are available for Mumbai - which boasts of among the highest property rates in the world.

The current practice is that individual maps are drawn for each prime property which has to be allotted for different purposes like public and private housing, infrastructure projects or public amenities.

Once the entire process of mapping and ownership is completed, the government would also get a correct indication of the exact ’stock’ of open, occupied or encroached prime properties available in the city, instead of relying on rough estimates, the official said.

Similar mapping with relevant documents of all prime properties in the remaining 34 districts in the state has already been completed.