Goa | Amid growing public concern and misinformation surrounding the National Geospatial Knowledge-based Land Survey of Urban Habitations (NAKSHA) pilot project in Goa, the Department of Land Resources (DoLR), Ministry of Rural Development, Government of India, has issued an official clarification stating that all existing property titles, land boundaries, and official land records remain fully protected.
The clarification, issued in coordination with the Directorate of Settlement and Land Records (DSLR), Government of Goa, aims to dispel rumours regarding the project’s objectives and reassure citizens that the survey exercise does not alter legal ownership or property rights.
NAKSHA: A GIS-Based Urban Land Mapping Initiative
The NAKSHA project is being implemented under the Digital India Land Records Modernization Programme (DILRMP). It is a Geographic Information System (GIS)-based initiative designed to create accurate digital maps of urban land parcels to support:
- Scientific urban planning
- Modern land administration
- Improved infrastructure planning
- Better public utility management
- Enhanced transparency in land records
According to the department, the initiative focuses solely on documenting the physical location and extent of land parcels and does not modify ownership records.
Government Reassures Property Owners
The Department has categorically clarified that:
- Existing property ownership remains legally protected.
- Original land records and property titles remain unchanged.
- The survey will not transfer ownership or alter legal rights.
- Neighbours or third parties cannot claim ownership based on their presence during the survey process.
The government also emphasized that non-resident property owners and individuals living abroad are fully protected. Their absence during field surveys does not affect their legal ownership, as the project includes multiple verification stages and officially notified public review periods before any mapping records are finalized.
Not a Land Acquisition or Taxation Exercise
Responding to public concerns, the Ministry clarified that NAKSHA is not a land acquisition programme and has no connection with government takeover of private land.
Officials further stated that the survey:
- Does not increase property taxes.
- Does not resolve ongoing land disputes.
- Does not replace judicial or administrative processes concerning ownership conflicts.
Any existing legal or boundary disputes will continue to be handled by the competent courts and relevant authorities. The project merely records the present physical status of land parcels.
Public Verification Process Underway
Following the completion of ground-truthing activities, the formal inquiry and verification process is scheduled from July 16 to August 14, 2026.
Property owners are requested to visit the Office of the Inspector of Survey and Land Records (ISLR) at Osia Commercial Arcade, SGPDA Market, Margao, carrying relevant property ownership documents. Officials will assist citizens throughout the verification process, and no technical surveying knowledge is required.
Government Urges Citizens to Ignore Rumours
The Department has appealed to citizens to rely only on official government communications regarding the NAKSHA project and actively participate in the verification exercise to ensure accurate and transparent land records.
The clarification underscores the government’s commitment to maintaining legal safeguards while advancing digital land record modernization under the Digital India initiative.
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