The Directorate of Settlement and Land Records has issued a public notice asking landowners and stakeholders in the Corporation of the City of Panaji and surrounding peri-urban areas to attend the NAKSHA property inquiry that is presently under way. The verification commenced on Monday and will conclude on July 27. Property owners have been asked to appear before the Inspector of Survey and Land Records, Panaji, with relevant ownership documents for verification and preparation of Urban Property Cards (UrPro).

The present phase has been described as involving detailed scrutiny of land records, verification of ownership rights and updating of the central database. The department has requested that original ownership documents be produced at the scheduled sessions at the local offices to facilitate records consolidation and the formal issue of Urban Property Cards. The notice clarifies that any land subject to an appeal, legal challenge or civil suit will be excluded from further action until final orders of the court or competent authority are received.

The NAKSHA pilot project in Goa forms part of a central government initiative to modernise urban land records by employing drone and geospatial technologies. Under this initiative, the Directorate has commenced formal land inquiry proceedings not only in Panaji and villages in Tiswadi but also in the municipal areas of Margao and Cuncolim. The department's January one notification stated that ground verification had already been completed and that the current scrutiny phase will concentrate on documentation and ownership validation.

For the Panaji municipal area and villages in Tiswadi taluka, verification can be completed until July 27 at the Office of the Inspector of Survey and Land Records, City Survey Office, Panaji. For the municipal areas of Margao and Cuncolim, verification will be held from July 16 to August 14 at the Office of the Inspector of Survey and Land Records, City Survey Office, Fatorda. The department has urged full cooperation to ensure accurate and timely updating of urban land records.