Land Information System


Since I consider that an efficient and uniform national LIS cannot deliver the goods and meet the pre-determined expectations, unless its core data fields are identified without ambiguity, I am of the opinion that the scope of the LIS requires to be carefully defined, though it is truly difficult to exhaustively deal with it at this stage. Still, I venture to visualize a practically efficient and functionally comprehensive national LIS, that consists of the following data fields, some of which have been an integral part of the existing conventional land records and some others external to that.
  1. Graphical Data - this essentially comprises of the graphical sketch of each landholding with full dimensional data and a map of the revenue village, along with height information. This also includes derived maps of Taluqs, Districts and State, created by mosaicing the village maps.

  2. Textual Data - this data flows essentially from two important sources, the primary one being the conventional land records and the other, the Government of India Census.
  1. Data from land records - these particulars can be readily extracted from the existing land records. They are, survey number, sub division, extent, name of the land holder, name of the present enjoyer, name of the encroacher, if any, soil classification details, land use, source of irrigation, extent irrigated under the single crop, extent irrigated under double crop, crop statistics including nature of the crop, extent sown, duration of the crop etc. The LIS may also contain a few additional particulars, basing on a carefully designed national model.

  2. Census data - census data is available for all the villages and towns in India, in terms of demographic profiles, physical aspects, economic resources, amenities and services etc.
  3. Demographic profiles - population density, population figures, sex ratio, literacy, work force etc.
  4. Physical aspects - rivers, climate and rainfall, soils, flora and fauna etc.
  5. Economic resources - forestry, minerals and mining, electricity and power, landuse pattern, agriculture, animal husbandry, fisheries, industries, trade and commerce, banks, transport etc.
  6. Amenities and services - educational facilities, medical facilities, availability of drinking water, postal and telegraphic facilities, communications and approach, power supply and irrigation facilities.
  7. Places of tourist and religious interest.
In fact, the wealth of census data is such, that the village and town census directories further classify the above categories into several sub-categories. Just to cite an example, the educational facilities are further differentiated in terms of primary or elementary schools, middle schools, secondary schools, higher secondary schools, colleges, industrial schools, training schools, adult literacy centres etc. Likewise, medical facilities are differentiated in terms of Ayurvedic, Unani and Homeopathic hospitals, maternity homes, child welfare centres, primary health centres, family welfare centres, nursing homes, TB clinics etc. Such classification is done in respect of all categories.

You will at once appreciate that the above data is capable of creating a reasonably versatile national LIS when integrated with the spatial data, comprised of the maps of landholdings and villages.

Right Cadastral Model For a Uniform National LIS
Here, I desire to add that the numerical cadastre which is in vogue in the Southern States of India has an inherent strength of retaining landholdings dimensionally stable during the maintenance operations, unlike its Northern Indian cousin, which comprises of only a village map generated directly on the field through plane-tabling techniques.

It is, therefore, my profound belief that the numeric cadastre based design shall be recognized for its superiority and adopted uniformly in all the States across the country, particularly because it renders maintenance of computerized record, much more objective.

Applications of the National LIS
The utility and benefits of the LIS to the key players involved is truly unlimited. I discuss below a list of specific applications, of course, is not exhaustive.
  1. Micro Watershed Development (MWD) As I mentioned earlier, one of the shortcomings of the existing land records is the lack of height information. In order that the proposed LIS should form a viable medium for agricultural applications, it should be supplemented with height information. Considering that several parts of India are semi arid and agriculture is predominantly rain-fed, development of micro watersheds for conservation, equitable distribution and efficient utilization of water, for increasing agricultural productivity, assumes paramount importance. This is particularly critical in areas not falling under any major irrigation project. Some of the important factors that influence the successful implementation of this program are:
    1. Delineation of watershed boundaries, drainage pattern and slope information from elevation data - this information will facilitate location of water sources and reduction of run-off.

    2. Meteorological data providing total annual precipitation.

    3. Hydrogeological studies to delineate natural aquifers for storage of rain water.

    4. Land capability studies involving precise soil classification, soil fertility, availability of nutrients and micro nutrients, humidity retention characteristics etc - this information will facilitate scientific basis for deciding cropping pattern.

    5. Up-to-date landholding information in the form of land records and village maps - this will facilitate cooperative efforts in watershed development among the landowners and equitable distribution of water.

    When all the above parameters are brought into one single database, there is a tremendous scope for studying the interaction between them and performing a variety of analyses employing mathematical, logical and empirical models based on statistical, socio-economical, cultural and other criteria. Land and water being scarce commodities, the crucial importance of LIS in the area of micro watershed development for improvement of agricultural productivity needs no further emphasis.
Page 4 of 5
| Previous | Next |