Haldwani, Sept. 29 -- A Differential Global Positioning System (DGPS) survey was launched in Haldwani's Damuadhunga area on Sunday to pave the way for granting land ownership rights to thousands of families living there. Nainital district magistrate Vandana, who goes by her first name, said she had instructed sub-divisional magistrate (SDM) Rahul Shah to begin the survey and appealed to residents to form ward-wise teams to assist officials. "We are preparing an action plan keeping in view the next 50 years of population growth. The survey will earmark land for water and sewerage lines, schools, health centres and parks so that residents have access to essential facilities in future," she said. Officials said DGPS helps in providing land ownership rights by generating highly accurate digital land maps with precise coordinates, which can then be integrated with Geographic Information Systems (GIS) to create a transparent and reliable framework for land entitlements. This technology provides verifiable digital records with exact latitude and longitude, reducing disputes, speeding up processes like subdivision applications, and protecting against encroachments by offering a definitive record of property boundaries. Officials said around 40,000 people currently reside on 650 acres of unreserved forest land in Damuadhunga. The area was declared a revenue village in December 2016 by the then Congress government, but the proposal to settle residents' land rights remained pending. In April this year, chief minister Pushkar Singh Dhami announced ownership rights for residents, following which the district administration sent a proposal to the state government. Reacting to the development, Congress state spokesperson Deepak Balutia urged the government to its exercise powers to conduct the survey and record the process at the earliest. "I hope with this process underway, the government will fulfil its promise to the villagers with full dedication and ensure they receive their rights soon."...