Under the project, being implemented with grant assistance from the Asian Development Bank, the government is computerizing all the Land Revenue Offices (LROs) and linking them with the centralized computer server at Singha Durbar. [break]
While all the manual records of the LROs will be digitized, the government on completion of the project in two years will start computerized transactions and service delivery to the people. “This e-governance project will free LROs from manual works, increase efficiency and enhance service delivery,” said Rajendra Prasad Sharma, director general of Department of Land Reforms and Management (DoLRM).
To start with, LROs in 14 districts including Kathmandu, Lalitpur, Bhaktapur, Pokhara, Rupandehi, Parsa and Morang, will be automated and networked with the server, he told myrepublica.com. Once it is completed, the program will be extended to other LROs across the country.
Officials said the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) that is overseeing the project has completed all necessary work to call bids for developing the necessary software, automation and networking tasks. “A bid notice will be made public soon,” said Sharma.
The party thus selected will also have to generate a complete electronic database of all the existing ownership certificates and property holdings recorded in LROs. “This will enable us to track property and land holding by any person in any part of the country,” said Sharma, adding that it will also help the people to cross-check ownership and other facts while buying land and also enable them to transact land deals from any LRO.
Most importantly, it will help the State keep track of people’s property, facilitating imposition of property tax that is being discussed at the Ministry of Finance.
The government is spending US$ 1.6 million in the project, said former director at DoLRM Shatrughan Pudasaini, who was involved in the project design. Of the amount, ADB is supporting US$ 1.4 million in grant assistance.
At present, only 10 LROs including five in the Kathmandu Valley are computerized. However, they have not completely switched on to computerized operations due to lack of human resources, absence of backup and system support, and lack of networking.
“So much so that we have not been able to dispose of manual files and folders whose information have already been digitized, as we do not have dependable data backup system,” a source said.
milan@myrepublica.com
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