Bhu Bharati project to cover Andhra by '12

Bhu Bharati, the country's first integrated land information system project, would be introduced in the entire 23 districts of Andhra Pradesh by 2012.

The project, which was initially taken up in Nizamabad and Warangal districts on a pilot basis at an investment of Rs 35 crore, is expected to be completed by March 2008. The National Remote Sensing Agency has already completed the aerial survey of the two districts.

Union minister of state for commerce Jairam Ramesh, who reviewed the progress, told mediapersons in Hyderabad on Sunday that the project would be extended to five more districts "" Kurnool, Karimnagar, Kadapa, Nellore and Srikakulam "" during the current financial year, subsequently covering the entire state and the country by 2012.