Service seekers at the District Land Revenue Office (DLRO) in Udayapur have complained that the service delivery has been delayed after the office launched its online service without proper planning.

The office does not have any computer technicians to solve technical glitches, which has been occurring frequently, delaying the office works.  

Shambhu Sharma, a service seeker, said, “Land registration process generally takes a long time. However, ever since the office started providing its service online, the process time has elongated even more. Connectivity problems, server problems and slow internet have affected the efficiency of work at the DLRO.”

People who recently visited the DLRO claimed that it took as many as seven days to register a land plot in the office now as opposed to one day before the new online service was introduced. “Before the office started online service, it took one to two hours to freeze land transaction or lift the ban, but now it takes three to five days for the same work,” said Sharma.

Three months ago, the DLRO started providing services online to provide prompt services to service seekers and to minimise corruption in the office.

But the office failed to do proper planning before launching its services online. A lack of technical manpower, and recurring glitches in the software and internet have added to the woes of the service providers and the seekers.

The service seekers who come to the district headquarters from various local units complained that as it takes more time to get their work done, they have to spend an additional amount on lodging and fooding.

“Nowadays, it takes at least seven days to register a plot of land. Besides paying revenue, we have to manage an additional amount of Rs 10,000 for bus fare, lodging and fooding,” said Bishnu Bahadur Rai of Rautamai Rural Municipality.

Officials from the DLRO admit that the department is bogged down with delays since it started its services online.

“We are facing technical problems, which inadvertently lead to delays. It takes three to four days to freeze land now, when in the past the work could be done in about two hours,” said acting office chief Keshav Acharya. “The lack of technical manpower is a major hindrance in providing efficient and prompt services.”