The Department of Land Reforms and Management has completed digitising data of 29 Land Revenue Offices (LROs) from the 131 offices in the country.

The digitization of data allows citizens to view information on their land and building using a computer or hand-held gadget.

Apart from five Kathmandu based LROs, the department has installed the system in Kavre, Dhading, Chitwan, Makwanpur, Parsa, Morang, Kaski, Baglung, Banke, Dhading, Chitwan, Pokhara, Taplejung and Sunsari.

Asian Development Bank supports 14 of the 29 LROs the department has implement Land Records Information Management System (LRIMS). The system debuted in Kalanki LRO in 2015.

The new system spares citizens the effort of visiting LROs to obtain details of land plots and fees they need to pay or have paid. Property owners now have user identities. Citizens can log into the system and read details of their land records.

“Apart from decreasing crowd at the LRO offices, the use of information technology has made a positive impact on revenue collection,” Hira Gopal Maharjan, one of the officers at the Department of Land Reforms and Management (DoLRM) said. As the record of property details can be accessed instantly, the recovery of capital gains tax applicable on traded property has increased, he said.

The positive impact of digitisation has encouraged the department to expand its use in LROs. The department has awarded the contract of digitising records of 39 LROs to three companies. It has asked for Expression of Interest from companies to digitise records of 45 other LROs.

“We will expedite installing online technology in the LROs across the nation,” Maharjan said. Lack of adequate staff and transfers of government officials hinder swift expansion of digitization, he said. Current laws allow people in the Tarai region to own 11 bighas of land (10 bighas as property and 1 bigha for residential use).

The ceiling in the hilly region is 75 ropanis (70 ropanis as property and 5 ropanis for residential use). Integrated land ownership certificates will make it easier for the government to find out individual land holdings.