Go for GPS mapping of government lands: HC tells TN govt

The Madras High Court today directed the Tamil Nadu government to take steps to protect government lands by GPS mapping and cautioned that it may have to intervene to safeguard them if warranted.
The first Bench, comprising Chief Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul and Justice R Mahadevan, directed Additional Advocate General P H Arvind Pandian to file an affidavit within two weeks in this regard.
The direction was made on a PIL by V B R Menon, a lawyer, who sought that the state government be asked to constitute a permanent special task force to protect government lands and remove encroachments.

"We are of the view that these are all matters of public trust which the state government must now promptly look into. Otherwise, there will be little option but for direct intervention by the court to protect government lands."
The petitioner wanted the Permanent Special Task Force to be vested with adequate powers to conduct periodical inspections and remove encroachments from all vacant government lands in Kancheepuram and Tiruvallur districts.
He also asked the court to direct the authorities to take appropriate action to ensure proper utilisation of such properties.

He further contended that the solution to have a proper record is only through the process of GPS mapping.

After hearing the arguments, the bench said: "The market cost of GPS ranges from Rs 10 lakh to whatever be the price at which ELCOT will procure."
"We are thus talking in terms of a budget of Rs three to four crore, that also fully centralised funds to obtain GPS and to ensure that the correct picture is with the state government.
"We do believe that this aspect can brook no further delay."
The court also said a task force set up by the state government in 2001 had obviously not achieved its objective. In the last 15 years, there has been no prevention of further encroachments.

The issue of centralised task force and its operation would have to be re-looked into by the state government, it said and posted the matter for further hearing to July 26.