Aruvikkara is Kerala's first geoinformatics panchayat

Thiruvananthapuram: Aruvikkara has become the first geoinformatics grama panchayat in the state by completing a geospatial mapping project. Under the project undertaken by the local bodies with technical support from Grameena Patana Kendram at Karakulam, every detail of the panchayat has been marked on a map for better planning of development activities.

Mr A. Sampath, MP (CPM) of Attingal,  declared Aruvikkara as the first geoinformatics grama panchayat.

Four other grama panchayats in Nedumangad block panchayat — Mannad, Panavoor, Vembayam and Karakulam — have also completed the geoinformatics project and the declaration is pending. 

Nedumangad will be declared as a  geoinformatic block panchayat  soon.

“The idea was to use the latest technology for planning. A map was first procured from the village office. Volunteers were assigned to conduct field-level verification of the information on the map. Alongside, they also conducted a social survey. The map was compared with satellite images,” said Mr V. Sreekantan, coordinator, Grameena Patana Kendram.

Aruvikkara panchayat president Mini  I. said, “We have every detail of our panchayat on a map. Every pond, electric post, streetlight, house, person, animal and vacant land has  been counted. This can be used while devising projects, as well as for various other uses,” she said.

The project took a year to complete. She said  that as they had updated the asset register, it was easy  to complete the process. Moreover, the people were briefed on the importance of providing  correct information through several grama sabhas. 

Two coordinators were chosen in every ward to conduct the field surveys, verify documents and measure the area of plots with the support of the Kendram’s staff. 

They too will be honoured soon. There are provisions in the software to update the information.