Status of land now on SMS in Hyd

Hyderabad, Dec. 29: Land buyers can get information on the legal status of the property that they intend to buy in the twin cities over SMS in the new year. The information will be limited to lands within MCH limits. A person seeking information should SMS the survey number(s) of the plot to 94408-15861. He will get the information in a couple of minutes,” Hyderabad joint collector Anil Kumar told this correspondent. The Hyderabad district collectorate has placed the land data and SMS-response software online with the BSNL. The service will give the questioner, information on the land including whether it is government owned, patta land, shikham land, privately owned, owner(s)’s name, the present occupier(s) and size of the land.
Since the SMS can take only 160 characters. a second and third SMS would be sent by the service to provide the complete set of details. Officials are working out the price for the SMS, and would announce it soon. They expect to launch the service as a new year gift to the citizens. “This scheme is being introduced on an experimental basis. Depending upon the success, we will extend it to the rest of the State,” Mr Kumar said. While it is currently on BSNL, “we are planning to tie up with other telecom and mobile service providers,” Mr Kumar said.