The Chennai Corporation is planning to get security clearance from
the Union Ministry of Home Affairs to conduct a survey of the city using
drones.

The civic body is expected to get accurate information of its assets, civic utilities and property using the survey.

Once the survey is conducted successfully, it will assess the loss of assets.

A number of properties belonging to the civic body have been encroached upon by unidentified persons.

The
survey is expected to expose such land grabbings. For example, the
survey by drones will throw light on the existing area of a park as
against the original area mentioned in the land records.

“We are
planning to get clearance from the Union Ministry of Home Affairs,” said
an official. On Thursday, senior officials inspected the drones to be
used for the survey.

Security measures

According to
sources, measures have been taken to prevent drones from coming into the
flight paths of aircraft in areas such as Adyar, Alandur and Saidapet.

In
2014, the Central government banned the use of UAV by any
non-government entity, organisation or an individual, but later
formulated rules for regulating drones.

The operator will intimate the air traffic authorities concerned.

“We
have studied notified prohibited, restricted and danger areas in the
airspace. The operation will be restricted to areas outside the lateral
and vertical boundaries of such areas,” said an official.

After the survey, the drones will not be sold or disposed of without permission from civil aviation officials.

The operator would ensure that all security measures were in place before the drones took off.

Restricted areas

If
any accident occurred during the flight civil aviation authorities
would be notified on the same day. “Drones will not be flown over
sensitive locations such as military facilities and other strategic
locations,” said the official.

The survey will be done only during the day with proper ground visibility and suitable surface winds.

Residents may report to the civic body any civic issues or injury caused by such drones on the corporation helpline 1913.