Cadastre

European Union and UNECE, Meetings of Land Administration (MOLA) accepted the term Cadastre and
Land Administration as synonymous term. The UNECE MOLA defines the Land Administration / Cadastre
as the process of determining, recording and disseminating information about the tenure, value and use
of land when implementing land management policies".

Land administration is considered to include land registration, cadastral surveying and mapping, the
fiscal, legal and multi-purpose cadastres and parcel based land information systems, and in many
systems, information supporting land use planning and valuation/land taxation systems."

Modern cadastral is infrastructure that facilitates efficient land and property markets, protect the land
rights of all, and support long term sustainable development and land management".

In Nepal, cadastral survey is understood as mapping, land registration, classification and updating maps
and land administration as recording transaction, right and restriction on land and other matters related
to land.

Adjudication is process of conforming the boundary ownership and use of a parcel in presence of
owners of adjoining parcels and local representative and concurrence of the owner and previous
records.

The plot register (the register which records mutation of the parcels), which may be sub division,
consolidation or land pooling process. Mutation (updating of records ) - is the process updating maps
and records.

Parcel is the piece of land having unique owner/tenant, land class and use, and bounded by wall, fence,
bond or boundary markers..

Land Classification

The land classes, which were defined by Land (Survey) Byelaw 2032, define quality of land parcel. It is
used to evaluate of land parcel for fixing land taxes, price, rent and valuation of land and other
purposes.

The classification was decided on the basis of sample classes of land chosen at district head quarter in
presence of district authorities and representatives.

The field team leader (surveyor) classified the land and published notice. The unsatisfied land owner /
tenant might lodge complaint and the committee composed of officer of Survey Gosawara (party), local
representative and district office would give final decision after hearing opinions of both sides.

Three types of land are distinguished:

(1) Private

(2) Public and government and

(3) Trust

Field Book and Plot Register

The field book is the register which recorded description of parcels on the basis of parcel numbers,
which contains references of previous record, name, address, names of father and grand father,
signature of owner / tenant, adjoining parcels, area, land class and use and remarks of tenant and
surveyor / changes took place on original parcel. The plot register is the register, which records the
changes, the mutation of parcel.

Handover of Records

It was generally transferred during off season in July / August or after completion of a VDC or wards of
municipality. The copy of land ownership certificates, called Moth and records of unregistered land /
government land handed over to Land Revenue Office and the maps, and Field Books and Plot Registers
to Survey Section along with required instruments and furniture.

Maintenance of cadastral survey records

A modern concept of Geographical Information System (GIS) has evolved for capturing, storing,
processing, managing, analyzing, and dissemination of geographic information. LIS (Land Information
System) as a subset of GIS is a system for acquiring, processing, managing, storing and distributing the
information of land. LIS is a tool for obtaining the relevant information for formulating effective land
polices and effective decision making process. 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 Reform &
Management separately. Department of Land Information and Archive (DoLIA) is established in
2057B.S.realizing the concepts of Land Information System (LIS) and central cadastral archive center by
Nepal Government.

(Land Records Information

Management System (LRIMS)) / Government Integrated Data Center
(GIDC) Intranet link (Private Link) Link /GIDC
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Primary Server Government Integrated Data Center(GIDC) छ

Secondary Server छ।

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Intranet link (Private Link)

Internet Connection (Public Link) छ ।
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Institutional Arrangement

The Departments of Land Reform, Survey, Land Revenue and Cooperatives were under Min. of Land
Reform. Cadastral Survey Goswaras were under Survey Department. The other main supporting offices
were Office of Chief District Officer, Land Reform and Land Revenue.

Land Revenue Office: It carried out land registration work after mutations and land transactions. It also
registered the unregistered land and carried out all the land administration works. The development of
land, planning and security necessitated establishment of LIS of both spatial and attribute data .The land
records of ownership and restrictions are kept and managed by Land Revenue offices, which are also
part of attribute data.

Land Reform Office: It carried out the work related to tenancy right and land reform works.

The systematic cadastral survey of the whole country completed of agricultural and other land near
agricultural area producing cadastral maps 1" = 100' to 1" = 400' or 1:500 to 1:2500 scale as isle land
type maps or sheets of maps on the basis of trigonometrical control points. Isle land type maps are
difficult to use even after digitization. Maps those are prepared in free sheets without control points,
always results with problem in matching the cadastral map of one sheet with another, bringing disputes
among the villages and districts as well.

Cadastral systems in Nepal comprise the following major components:

• Cadastral Maps - The graphical cadastral maps at the scale of survey that are identified by the
systematic map sheet number and included main features in the parcel.

• Field Book - The field book identify the landowner (s) of each parcel, which is based on the evidence
produced during registration of the parcel. It includes:
 Description of owner and tenants (if exists)
 Full name, address and data of birth/age (owner's unique ID is recently designed but not
functioning)
 Father's / or husband's name & address
 Description of legal document of land registration
 Land classification, land type, crops, irrigated or non irrigated land, area of the land parcel etc.

• Land Ownership Certificate - Two copies of land ownership certificate are prepared, the official copy is
termed as Jagga Dhani Darta Sresta, kept in office and the second copy is termed as Jagga Dhani Darta
Praman Purja, distributed to the concerned owner.

• File Maps - During the process of land transaction when the parcel is too small and if it is not possible
to plot in the map after fragmentation of the parcel, a fi le map of this parcel will be prepared in a
separate sheet in larger scale.

• Plot Register - Plot register is information of each parcel which has been fragmentation. The main
information in the plot register are the newly established parcel numbers along with the mother parcel
number, the area of each fragmented parcels and how the parcels has been fragmented
The customized application of Arc map termed as SAEx (Spatial Application Extension) has been used
for digitizing the existing manual paper based maps. Parcel Editor, customized software for Arc map is
used to process the data acquired by total station.

During the initial stage of cadastral survey, nationwide geodetic network was not available and hence
the cadastral survey for 38 districts was carried out in the free sheet which is also called as island maps.
Island maps are prepared in the scale of 1 inch to 100 feet.

The different scales of the cadastral maps prepared in controlled sheets are 1:2500 scale maps for the
agriculture land, 1:1250 scale maps for the semi urban land and 1:500 scale maps for the urban land
with permissible error of 62.5cm for 1:2500, 31.25cm for 1:1250 and 12.5cm for 1:500 scales.

Advantages of orthophoto in cadastre

 It may be economical to use photography of sufficiently large scale to meet the needs of
cadastral surveying even though this exceeds the requirements of other mapping
projects.
 Best method to carry out the cadastral survey of a new area which is required to be
carried out quickly.
 In case full time employee for staff and instrument are not possible, air survey for
cadastral survey is best option.

Demerits of orthophoto

 One of the great disadvantages of air survey is that, except for the ground control marks
that are part of the basic geodetic framework, it does not leave permanently demarcated
points on the ground.
 Boundary delineation for small parcel will be difficult for low resolution image and results in
extensive field work.

Mapping Techniques for cadastre

A. Ground Survey
1. Total station Survey
 Carrying out survey with a special instrument Called total station
 Very accurate

2. GPS survey
 Carrying out survey by GPS, with the help of signals from satellite
 Very accurate
 Very fast
 B. Aerial survey
1. Photogrammetry survey/ orthophoto
 Making maps with the help of aerial orthophoto
 Less accurate than ground survey but very fast and cheap.

2. Remote Sensing Imagery

 Making map with the help of images taken from satellites.
 Less accurate than ground survey.
 Cheap and fast technique.

Approaches of Cadastral survey

Cadastral survey maybe carried out in two approaches:

1. Systematic survey
2. Sporadic survey

Therefore cadastral documents are either prepared or updated in these two approaches. updated in
these It is used when cadastral document of whole area is required for adopting new registration two
approaches.

1. Systematic survey
 Survey is carried out thoroughly area by area to cover whole country (concept of Goswara survey
in Nepal)
 Sometime may conduct for a district or Zone or Such region (Concept of Achham and
Arghakhanchi survey)
 system.
 E.g. when Nepal undergoes in title registration system, it would require systematic cadastral
survey under fixed boundary system.
 It is more expensive and time consuming method
 It is more expensive and time consuming method
 More human resources are required at once
 New organization or new structuring of an existing organization may be required
 This was initially adopted for taxation purpose
 The enhancement of survey is based on the need of technology development; increasing rate of
land valuation; improving land management and development activities.
2. Sporadic survey:
 The survey is carried out for updating or gathering up to date cadastral information of a
particular parcel or group of parcels when transaction is occurred or during land development
activities(i.e. land Reform, land consolidation, redistribution, acquisition, plotting, etc)
 It is only conducted at specific time (not continuous) when required in part wise survey. •It cost
effective (at low cost), timeliness(less time).
 It cost effective (at low cost), timeliness(less time).
 Few human resources are required.
 Convenient for adopting new technology in cadastral survey but take more time.
 Based on new technology
 Effective for updating LIS
 First registration is not required since parcel has been already registered.
 E.g. survey for parcel subdivision ( by transaction, inheritance etc)
 Survey for parcel plan of urban area.

2D Cadastre

Cadastre (2D) is a methodically arranged public inventory of data concerning properties within a certain
country or district, based on a survey of their boundaries. The outline of the property and parcel
identifier are normally shown on large scale maps which together with registers, may show for each
separate property the nature, size, value and legal rights (especially ownership) associated with the
parcel. It gives and answer to the question where and how much.

3D Cadastre

3D Cadastre records and gives insights into rights and restrictions not (only) on parcel but on 3D
property units. A 3D property unit is that (bounded) amount of space. A 3D property unit is that
(bounded) amount of space to which a person is entitled by means of real rights. A 3D (property)
situated refers to situations in which different property units (with possibly different types of use) are
located on top of each other or constructed in even more complex structures i.e. interlocking one
another.
Cadastral Documents

Different survey forms

 Survey field book no 1. Field Book

 Survey field book no 2. Land ownership teerej
 Survey field book no 3: Land ownership Srestha
 Survey field book no 4: Land ownership Certificate
 Survey field book no 5: Area computation form

Importance of Cadatre
 Planning and policy formulation on land issues
 Guarantee of ownership of land property
 Security of tenure
 Support for environmental monitoring
 Support for environmental monitoring
 Improved urban planning, infrastructure development,
 Land market regularization
 property tax collection
 Land use zoning
 Land dispute resolution
 Support land administration

Boundary

1. Fixed Boundary
 Mathematical position
 Coordinates of corner values
 Very accurate
 Can be relocated exactly
 Precise line of boundary can be determined
 Can be defined on-ground prior to development, after development, or by development, after
development, or by standardized surveys

2. General Boundary
 Physical object
 Not accurate
 Cannot be relocated accurately
 Only approximately determined, precise details need on-ground investigation
 Ownership of boundary feature may not be established established
 Represented using physical feature; eg river

Boundary Demarcation

 For boundary demarcation it is quite challenging.

 We have to demarcate it by taking reference to existing map,documents,local public,etc.

Evidences used in boundary demarcation

 Title deeds (and plans)

 Witnesses
 Public documents (e.g. administrative boundaries)
 Ancient documents and old maps
 The way the land is occupied and used
 Modes of construction (e.g. fence)
 ‘pegs over plans, monuments over measurements’
Technical specifications and Standards

 Closed link traverse should be followed.

 Control point must be established by Geodetic Survey Branch or Cadastral Survey Branch.
 The design of cadastral map will be according to Director General of Survey Department.
 Directive is prepared.
 SOP(Standared Operation Procedure) Should be followed for Digital Cadastre.

Specification for Preparation of cadastral documents

DOS specification for cadastral mapping:

 Sheet format: 50cm X 50cm

 Sheet type : permatrace(75micron)
 Scale : 1:2500 for open area( agriculture land) 1: 1250 for rare village 1: 1250 for rare village 1: 500
for dense village or urban area
 Projection: MUTM
 Method: PT/ TS for digital survey
 Plotting error: 1/4thof 1mm of corresponding scale
 Pencil for plotting: Hard( 4H)
 Color: black and white
 Control : National grid based

Parcel Subdivision

 During buying / selling

 During development project (road expansion)
 Decision of courts
 Consolidations of land

Process of parcel subdivision

 Preparation of deed
 Submission of deed to Land Revenue office
 Check for transaction in land register (Moth)
 Forward deed to survey office for parcel subdivision
 Registration of deed in survey office
 Check of deed and area of parcel in cadastral map
 If ok subdivide parcel as mentioned in deed
 If not ok forward deed for approval of correct area in land ownership certificate and official
documents
 After correction proceed the subdivision
 Use free numbering system for parcel number
  Update digital data base (using GIS application)

Parcel Numbering system

The parcel numbering system of parcel during cadastral survey starts from North-west corner the first
numbers are provided to government and public lands then starts to numbering of individual. The
numbering system ends to South-east corner.

After the parcel sub division three different types of numbering system are used for the sub divided
parcels;

1. Filiations system
For any parcel with parcel number 153 (suppose), after the parcel is subdivided into two new
parcels then the numbering of each parcel is done as 153a and 153b.

2. Fractional system
For any parcel with parcel number 153 (suppose), after the parcel is subdivided into two new
parcels then the numbering of each parcel is done as 153/1 and 153/2.

3. Free numbering system

For any parcel with parcel number 153 (suppose) and the corresponding sheet has the largest
parcel number as 535, after the parcel is subdivided into two new parcels then the numbering of
each parcel is done as 536 and 537.
This the system adopted by Nepal for parcel numbering after the parcel sub division.

Types of land

1. Private land
2. Public land
By "Public land" is meant land allocated for use not only by individual but by general public like
path, pond, water-sprout, well and their banks, exit for cattle, grazing-land, graveyard, public
inn, temple, place for religious practice, memorials, court-yard, sewerage, market-place, public
entertainment and sports ground and other lands specifically denoted so by Government of
Nepal through publication in the Nepal Gazette.

3. Governmental land
By "Government land" is meant road, path, railway, and land housing government building or
construction; and this word also denotes forest, shrubs, rivers, rivulets, land abandoned by river,
lakes ponds and their banks, canal, water channels, unregistered land, uncultivated land, un-
used land-slopes, sands and other lands specifically denoted so by Government of Nepal
through publication in the Nepal Gazette.
 Encroachment of government land
Some of the major reasons of illegal encroachments on government and public land can be
categorized as following.
 Poverty, landlessness and search for better income
 Conflict and displacement
 Open border and immigration of foreign poor
 Political instability and lawlessness
 Legal loopholes
 Lack of political will and policy stability
 Lack of public awareness
 Ambiguity of responsibility and custodianship

4. Trust land/ Guthi

"Guthi" means and includes a Guthi (trust) endowed by any philanthropist through
relinquishment of his or her title to a movable or immovable property or any other income-
yielding property or fund for the operation of any shrine (matha) or festival, worship or feast of
any God, Goddess or for the construction, operation or maintenance of any temple, shrine
(devasthal), rest house (dharmashala), shelter (pati), inn (pauwa), well, tank, road, bridge,
pasture, garden, forest, library, school, reading hall, dispensary, treatment facility, house,
building or institution for any religious or philanthropic purpose.
Different types of Guthi that that exists are;
1. Rajguthi
2. Chhut Guthi
3. Personal Guthi

Units of area measurement in Nepal

Different units of land measurement are used in Nepal according to the geographical division. In
Terai belt units like Bigaha, Kattha, and Dhur are used while in the hilly area and valleys units of
measurement are Ropani, Aana, Paisa and Dam.

But in land ownership certificate area of a parcel is represented in Hector and square meter. During
computation of area in square meter, area is to be given with two decimal numbers. But in case of
Digital cadastral or use of application for area computation area given by the application will be
recorded.

Conversion of units;

1 Hector = 10,000 sq. meter

1 Bigaha = 20 Kattha

1 Kattha = 20 Dhur
1 Dhur = 16.93 sq. m

1 Ropani = 16 Aana

1 Aana = 4 Paisa

1 Paisa = 4 Dam

1 Dam = 1.99 sq. m