NEW DELHI: To streamline Joint Measurement Surveys (JMS) carried out for land acquisition and maintain accuracy, the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has developed a standardised template along with a comprehensive set of instructions for strict compliance.
The initiative aims to address the deficiencies in the existing process, restructure the land acquisition procedure by ensuring accuracy, transparency, and completeness in documents. With the standardisation, the agency is also expecting to evade possible unwanted legal hassles during the acquisition.
According to an official note, the NHAI introduced the new arrangement after it observed inconsistencies in JMS reports and essential details missing on many occasions. These issues often lead to legal disputes and enhanced compensation claims at later stages of the land acquisition process.
“Given the past experiences and to organise the surveys, a standard template for JMS has been developed. Additionally, some instructions such as a deadline to complete the process and proper documentation of all assets as evidence, have also been issued to address existing shortcoming,” said officials.
The joint surveys for the proposed development of highways are to be conducted by the representatives of NHAI, concerned department of the state government, consultants appointed to prepare Detailed Project Report (DPR) and the land owners.
JMS activities fall within the scope of work of DPR consultant, who is responsible for Geo-tagging and preparing a comprehensive inventory of all assets attached to the land. This includes systematic documentation along with photographic and video evidence.
According to fresh directions, the JMS should be conducted within 15 days from the date of publication of ‘3A notification’ and a report be also made. The notification formally declares the Government's intention to acquire land for a public purpose related to a national highway, initiating the land acquisition process.
Directions have also been issued to carefully carry out land parcel measurement with due accuracy and demarcate boundaries. The results will need to be cross-verified with GIS-based data. The surveyors will capture photographs of all assets such as structures, trees or plants within the Right of Way (RoW) and their details along with the corresponding geo-tagged photographs should be uploaded on the Bhoomirashi portal; single point platform developed for online processing of land acquisition notifications to accelerate highway infrastructure development projects.
The details of agriculture land - type, location and extent of existing crops must also be documented.