The Goa government has commenced the second phase of the NAKSHA (National Geospatial Knowledge-based Land Survey of Urban Habitations) pilot project, with the focus now shifting to the verification of urban land ownership.

As part of the exercise, the Directorate of Settlement and Land Records has issued more than 6,000 notices to property owners in the Corporation of the City of Panaji (CCP) limits and parts of the Taleigao area. Officials said landowners who have not yet received their notices need not worry, as the remaining notices will be delivered in the coming days.

The NAKSHA project, launched under the Central Government's initiative to modernise urban land records, is being implemented on a pilot basis in Panaji, Margao, and Cuncolim. During the first phase, survey teams carried out extensive ground surveys, collecting details of properties and marking structures using advanced technologies such as DGPS Rover equipment and drone imagery.

Landowners who receive the notices are required to verify their property details by submitting relevant ownership documents along with identity proof, including Aadhaar cards, to facilitate the authentication of survey records.

In the Panaji survey, notices have been issued to residents of Panaji, Taleigao, Renovadi, Durgawadi, Murda, Bambolim, Calapor, Cujira, Morambi-O-Grande, and Morambi-O-Pequeno.

Speaking on the exercise, Patrick Gonsalves, Inspector of Surveys and Land Records, said the physical verification process in Margao and Cuncolim will begin from July 16. The Margao survey will cover Margao city, Nuvem, Raia, Seraulim, Navelim, Davorlim, and Aquem, while the Cuncolim exercise will include Cuncolim, Ambelim, and Veroda.

Officials said around 39 survey teams have been deployed for the project. The teams are conducting on-site verification and digitally mapping structures to create accurate and updated urban land records.

According to the department, the previous comprehensive city survey in these areas was conducted between 1970 and 1976, making the ongoing exercise a significant step towards digitising and modernising Goa's urban land records.