LiDAR survey-based master plan can help authorities to identify any illegal structure in Guwahati
Guwahati city is growing by leaps and bounds and structures ranging from the humble pan shop to high-rise buildings, towering hoardings and unipoles dot its landscape. To build any structure, permission has to be acquired from the relevant authorities which, in the case of Guwahati, are Guwahati Municipal Corporation (GMC) or Guwahati Metropolitan Development Authority (GMDA); these agencies need to give their approval to building plans and issue necessary permits.
As there are many unplanned and illegal structures coming up in the city, keeping a check on these is vital for the all-round development of the city, but ironically, there is no mechanism in place for this.
City-based architect and member of Architect Association, Assam, Ranel Das talking to GPlus said, “The system is such that identifying illegal structures is next to impossible. Also, people are given options to convert illegal structures into legal,” adding that after a building permission is given under a particular legal parameter, many people violate the permission and construct the building violating various norms. He said that later, after payment some fine, that violation isaccepted by the authorities and occupancy certificate is issued. He said, “There should be zero tolerance,” adding the illegal structures can be identified by the departments provided there is enough manpower to continuously verify all structures of the city.
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A source in the GMC told GPlus, “There is no survey conducted till now to identify how many illegal structures are there in Guwahati,” adding that the department verifies the structure with permissions whenever a complaint against any structure is received. The source said that with limited manpower it is difficult to check all upcoming structures every day.
A source in GMDA talking to GPlus said, “It is not impossible to identify illegal structures, it’s just that every construction of any structure has to be verified if there is permission or not,” adding that with the limited manpower it is difficult. The source further added there should be some “technical mechanism” which can help the authorities.
A source in Dispur said that until a few years back the GMC did not have a mechanism to check who is paying property tax and who is not. The source said that after taking help from APDCL, the GMC now is verifying holding numbers and getting property tax which is still not 100%. If an authority does not have a mechanism to collect property tax, how will they have a system in place to identify illegal structures? The source said as of now illegal structures identification mechanism does not exist in Assam.
A technical expert and source working in the department of town and country planning talking to GPlus on condition of anonymity said, “There can be a technical mechanism which may help authorities to keep a vigil and identify illegal structures,” adding that a LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) survey-based master plan of any city or town can help authorities identify illegal structures.
LiDAR survey is a remote sensing method that uses rapid light pulses from a near-infrared laser to collect measurements. The data is then transformed into a 3D model or map (referred to as a point cloud) of the terrain and its characteristics.
The source said that the point cloud has all minute details about any area including the details of trees, hoardings, unipoles, all buildings with addresses and so on. “It will be impossible to construct illegal structure in an area which has a master plan based on LiDAR survey,” said the source.
The Guwahati Metropolitan Development Authority (GMDA) has proposed Guwahati city’s makeover with a master plan till 2045. But the master plan is being revised. The plan involves expanding the city's boundaries and introducing a land pooling scheme, signalling significant changes on the horizon. But even after being proposed quite some time ago, the extension of the city is yet to be decided.
In terms of population projection and density, Guwahati has seen steady growth over the years, reflecting the city's increasing urbanization and development. According to data provided by the Guwahati Metropolitan Development Authority (GMDA), the population projection in 1991 stood at 707,955, which increased to 990,161 by 2001 and to to 1,475,651 in 2021. Looking ahead, the Guwahati master plan paints a picture of continued growth, with projections indicating that by 2031, the population is expected to reach 2,024,565. By 2041, this figure is estimated to rise to 3,151,450, and by 2045, it is projected to reach 3,863,812. The master plan of Guwahati is being designed according to the estimated population and estimated extension which now includes upcoming Ring Road, said the town and country planning source. But the source asserted, “LiDAR survey-based master plan is the need of the hour which will help stop construction of illegal structures.” The source further said that LiDAR survey is very expensive and cannot be done in Guwahati without getting permissions from agencies concerned.
“Guwahati falls under red zone,” said the source adding that permission from Ministry of Defence and Airport Authority of India has to be taken for LiDAR survey in Guwahati because it would involve flying a drone; a LiDAR laser-based scanner has to be attached to a drone for doing the survey.
The source further said that Singapore has similar mechanism and there is hardly any issue of illegal structure construction there.
Guwahati may be expanding, but the issues like waterlogging, landslide and various natural disasters are also increasing. To tackle the menace, illegal structures have to be checked and accordingly LiDAR survey-based master plan is required.