KATHMANDU: The Ministry of Land Management, Cooperatives and Poverty Alleviation has initiated the verification of actual squatters using the Land Records Information Management System, marking a shift toward digital land governance.
According to Joint Secretary and Spokesperson Ganesh Prasad Bhatta, the system is being used to determine whether individuals claiming squatter status own land elsewhere in the country, based on official government records.
The verification process is currently being piloted within the Kathmandu Valley under the direction of the Ministry of Urban Development, with plans to expand nationwide in phases.
Bhatta stated that the process is designed to be transparent, efficient and cost-effective, relying on digital tools and established legal procedures. Authorities believe that identifying genuine squatters will help streamline future rehabilitation and land management efforts.
The ministry oversees 110 land revenue offices and 21 land reform and land revenue offices across the country, which are expected to support the verification process.
In parallel, the ministry has instructed all 753 local levels to assess their capacity to deliver land-related services, including staffing, technical expertise and infrastructure. Based on these assessments, training and capacity-building programs will be rolled out to strengthen local-level land administration.
Officials say decentralising land services to local governments could improve geographic verification processes and accelerate service delivery, ultimately making land administration more accessible and efficient for the public.
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