Initiatives by Government of Nepal for Handling Spatial and Aspatial Data and Support in Establishing LIS in Nepal

1. Initiatives by Government of Nepal for
Handling Spatial and Aspatial Data
and Support in Establishing LIS in
Nepal

2. Introduction :
LIS is a tool for obtaining the relevant information for formulating
effective land polices and effective decision making process. LIS (Land
Information System) as a subset of GIS is a system for acquiring,
processing , managing, storing and distributing the information of land.
It will provide clear, complete, concise and comprehensive information
for efficient land management. However for the complete Land
Information System (LIS) there is a need of both spatial and non-spatial
(attribute) information about land. In our context these data are being
handled by Survey Department and Department of Land management
and archive separately .
LIS Activities in Nepal :
For the effective and efficient land management LIS has been
proved as an appropriate tool. According to the FIG (International
Federation of Surveyors) LIS is a tool for legal, administrative and
economic decision making and for planning and development which
consists on the one hand of a database containing spatially referenced
land related data for a defined area and on the other hand of procedures
and techniques for the systematic collection, updating, processing and
distribution of the data. The base of a LIS is a uniform spatial referencing
system for the data in the system which facilitates the linking of data
within the system with other land related data. So for establishing LIS,
both spatial data and aspatial (attribute) data are necessary. First

3. endorsed by the government in 8th periodic plan (1992-1997). It was
stated that a nation wide LIS would be established within two year
Unrealistic and almost impossible mission Integrated LIS project was
established under MoLRM for incorporating spatial and attribute
aspects. Pilot work of establishing LIS was started in Bhaktpur District
Software was designed to acquire non spatial data.
Non spatial (attribute data) were entered in computer but the
performance of the software was not satisfactory .The project could not
be run smoothly . Separate Department was established in 2057 named
DoLIA by merging two components, LIS project in MoLRM and Archive
Section in SD .. Working to transform the traditional system of land
administration and archive into the modern system by developing
proper and appropriate hardware and software system. Spatial data
were also acquired in Bhaktpur District, (partially) by developing
application software. Programme was extended to the Kathmandu,
Lalitpur and Kaski Districts also. Started to keep archive of cadastral
records; fieldbook, plotregister, and cadastal maps from survey offices
through the country. Old maps Mauja Naksa of Kathmandu valley, also
microfilms of cadastral maps and fieldbooks of kathmandu valley was
archived in assistance of German Govermnent. All records were archived
in DVD and hard disk as images.DoLIA has developed different softwares
for handling spatial and attribute data, and support in establishing LIS in
Nepal.
 DLIS (District Land Information System).
 SAEx (Spatial Application Extension).
 IRMS (Image Reference Management System).
 PRMS (Plot Register Management System)

4. Now Survey Department building LIS its own way and Department of
Land Management and Archive building LIS in own way however both
Department has started transformation of cadastre management from
offline to centralized online system.
Department of Survey has :
 Cadastral Maps
 Fieldbooks
 PlotRegister
 NeLIS , Merokitta
Department of Land Management and Archive has :
 Moth Shrestha
 Rokkas
Application/Software used to developed for handling LIS
Survey Department
1. Nepal Land Information System (NeLIS)
Nepal Land Information System (NeLIS) is an application
software designed and developed for handling the spatial and aspatial
data of survey offices.
Function of Nepal Land Information System (NeLIS) :
 Cadastral Data Management System
 Daily Transaction Management system
 Web Application :

5. Another is a thin client to manage computationally lighter tasks. It works
with any modern browser which is connected to the departmental
intranet. This app facilitates following tasks:
● User / Staff Management
● Roles and section management
● Reporting
● Transaction detailing
● Public modules handling
● Field Book Image Management
● Plot Register Image Management
● User Transfer
 Desktop Application :
There are two clients in NeLIS client -server architecture. A thick client to
carry out the processing of the heavier tasks of spatial management.
These includes:
● Map View
● Map Print
● Georeference
● Map Update (Segments / Construction)
● Split Parcel
● Update Attribute
● Spatial Update

6. ● Trace Map Print
● Merge Parcel
● Multi Parcel Split
2.Merokitta
“MeroKitta” is the online system where the clients request for
the service through website https://merokitta.dos.gov.np. The client can
track the status of the application for the service in the same website
and also get the final deliver of the service for download in the same
website again.
The system has two types of users.
1. One is individual user who doesn’t need any login credentials but need
to provide the valid mobile number where SMS will be sent through the
system regarding every middle process before final service deliver.
2. Another user of the system is an institutional user which needs to get
the login credential to receive the service. Through internet
(https://merokitta.dos.gov.np) Facilities for Map Print, Field Book Print,
Plot Register Print Required documents: citizenship certificate and land
ownership certificate.
3.SAEx (Spatial Application Extension)
SAEx is an application software and is an extension of ArcGIS.
Initially it was customized as an extension version of ArcGIS 8x. This
extension has been developed for acquisition of the spatial data from
the hard copy of cadastral sheets that is digitization and geodatabase
Creation in a very consistent way maintaining the uniformity and
integrity, and ultimately for providing the quick, prompt and

7. qualitative computer based cadastral services to the general public
and other stakeholders from survey offices. Piloting was done in
Bhaktapur and Chabahil survey offices in 2000 B.S. Later SAEx was
then upgraded to ARcGIS 9x due to the some limitations in
functionality and user friendliness in old version. Basically SAEx
consists of three features classes
 Parcel
 Construction
 Segments
Department of Land Management and Archive
DLIS later LRIMS
Land Record Information Management System is an application software
designed and developed for handling the attribute data of land revenue
offices. This System includes :
 The details of land and land owners across the country are stored
centrally on the same server of the department and the
data/details needed by the department and stakeholders can be
easily obtained. The daily revenue and transaction figures collected
in the offices where the online service is implemented can be
obtained from the department at any time. Details of land holdings
across the country in the name of a person can be easily traced.
 When the ownership of real estate is transferred, the registration
fee, capital gains tax and service fee collected by the land office are
automatically calculated in the system.
 There is a provision to enter the accepted minimum valuation
amount of the land in the system and when the ownership of real
estate is transferred, there is a provision in the system that no

8. transaction can be made with a bag price lower than the minimum
valuation.
Conclusion :
As spatial data and attribute data are the fundamental components of
LIS, DoS & DoLMA has been focusing on capturing , storing, processing,
and bringing them in operations or transactions for computer based
service delivery to general public . Both Department has started
transformation of cadastre management from offline to centralized
online system. .It is not a easy job. It is a huge task that may takes some
more time and investment. To achieve this goal, support, co-operation,
co-ordination, positive feedbacks from the concerned ministry and
ministers are highly essential.
Thank You.