The rights granted by the constitution enter the implementation phase after 10 years, with 8 local levels providing services and preparations for service delivery underway in 13 others.
We use Google Cloud Translation Services. Google requires we provide the following disclaimer relating to use of this service:
This service may contain translations powered by Google. Google disclaims all warranties related to the translations, expressed or implied, including any warranties of accuracy, reliability, and any implied warranties of merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose, and noninfringement.
The land revenue and survey offices have gradually begun transferring land administration services to local governments. Land administration work has already started in eight local governments, and preparations have been completed in an additional thirteen municipalities.
The constitution grants the exclusive right to distribute land ownership certificates to local governments. Ten years after the promulgation of the constitution, the work related to land ownership certificates has now been delegated to local governments. According to the Ministry of Land Management, Cooperatives, and Federal Affairs and General Administration, land administration services have already started in Kageshwari Manohara Municipality (Kathmandu), Shivasatakshi Municipality (Jhapa), Kankai Municipality (Jhapa), Chaudandigadhi Municipality (Udayapur), Bhumlu Rural Municipality (Kavrepalanchok), Roshi Rural Municipality (Kavrepalanchok), Melamchi Municipality (Sindhupalchok), and Belka Municipality (Udayapur).
Similarly, preparations have been completed in Bhagwatimai Rural Municipality (Dailekh), Punarbas Municipality (Kanchanpur), Rapti Sonari Rural Municipality (Banke), Chulachuli Rural Municipality (Ilam), Halesi Tuwachung Municipality (Khotang), Pakhribas Municipality (Dhankuta), Sainamaina Municipality (Rupandehi), Jhapa Rural Municipality (Jhapa), Khumbu Pasang Lhamu Rural Municipality (Solukhumbu), Marin Rural Municipality (Sindhuli), Hupsekot Rural Municipality (Nawalparasi), Kalika Municipality (Chitwan), and Gramthan Rural Municipality (Morang).
Ministry spokesperson and joint secretary Ganesh Prasad Bhatt said that services previously provided by the land revenue and survey offices have now begun to be delivered by local governments. He stated that the authority to provide land administration services is being gradually transferred to local governments that are ready to deliver these services. “Preparations have been fully completed in a few more municipalities. Work will begin soon,” he told Kantipur, “We are preparing to transfer land-related services to as many municipalities as possible within this fiscal year.”
Land administration work has been carried out through 137 land revenue offices across the country, including in the headquarters of all 77 districts. Ministry spokesperson Bhatt said that the goal is to gradually expand this to all 753 municipalities.
Last Baisakh, the government amended the Land Revenue Act 2034 through an ordinance to transfer land administration authority to local governments as part of an ordinance to amend some Nepal Acts. The Act was amended so that the local government’s land management branch would handle tasks such as documentation, registration, transfer of ownership, entry and removal, record deduction, freezing and unfreezing of land.
Based on that ordinance, land administration work has been transferred to local governments. However, since the ordinance was not introduced in the federal parliament, it has become inactive. Spokesperson Bhatt said that the transfer of land administration services to local governments has continued based on the regulations formulated under the ordinance.
He said that since this provision remains in the regulations, there is no problem in carrying out the work accordingly. Land-related work has been transferred to municipalities that are ready to provide services by arranging the necessary human resources, physical infrastructure, and equipment. Bhatt said that the work is being advanced so that the management of necessary resources, equipment, and human resources is done by the respective municipalities. The ministry has provided the necessary training to the human resources.
On 10 Baisakh, the ministry issued a notice calling on rural municipalities and municipalities wishing to provide services previously delivered by land reform/land revenue and survey offices to contact the ministry. The notice stated that the necessary human resources and infrastructure for service delivery must be arranged by the local governments themselves.
Based on that notice, 225 local governments expressed their interest to the ministry in taking over the services. For the first phase, the ministry selected 35 of those local governments. Among the selected municipalities, work began in the first phase in those that had completed preparations for the necessary infrastructure to provide land management services.
For land administration work, each local government is required to manage 13 personnel: one administrative officer, one survey officer, one surveyor, two amin (assistant surveyors), four nayab subba (non-gazetted officers), two computer operators, and two office assistants. Similarly, each local government must arrange for 10 types of equipment, including computers, printers, web cameras, and backup power, as well as at least four rooms.
Of the revenue collected from land registration at the land revenue office, 60 percent goes to the local government and 40 percent to the provincial government. The capital gains tax is collected by the federal government. The local government receives 100 percent of the land revenue fee.
Roshi Rural Municipality chairperson Dinesh Lama expressed happiness that land administration services have begun to be provided by the municipality itself. “After we arranged the necessary human resources and equipment and started the service, it has become easier for service seekers,” he told Kantipur. “The need to travel to the district headquarters for land revenue and survey work has ended.” He said that since the municipality began providing services, 17 people have received land ownership certificates after their land was processed. “The constitutional right to carry out land administration work belongs to the local government,” he said. “Previously, we did not have that authority. Now that it is being implemented, it has been very beneficial.”
