Kathmandu, Mar. 28:Minister for Land Reforms and Management Siddha Raj Ojha has said that while formulating laws concerning geo-informatics systems, there should be proper standards, security, austerity over costs and uniformity of statistics.

Inaugurating a seminar concerning law relating to geo-informatics systems here today, Minister Ojha noted that such law would be practical and people-oriented if matters such as easy access by the people and simple procedures could be considered as the basis.

Expressing the view that sustainable development could take place through proper use of land in a predominantly agricultural country such as ours, he said the findings of the seminar would be useful to the government in formulating law relating to appropriate systems.

On the occasion, Minister of State for Land Reforms and Management Gopal Rai laid emphasis on the need for a system to be scientific and transparent and said that if the civil servants fulfil their roles honestly, the target set by the government could be attained.

Chief Secretary Tirtha Man Shakya, who chaired the function, said that the amount of land required for forests, agriculture and residential purposes should be established and new records maintained in a planned manner.

Secretary at the Ministry of Land Reforms and Management Yoddha Shaha said that a geo-information system would be introduced from next year onwards.

Twenty-one persons including officials of the Ministry and legal experts are attending the two-day seminar.

The Ministry of Land Reforms and Management launched a geo-information system project in 2052 bikram year with the objective of formulating laws relating to computer-based geo-informatics in order to implement programmes for increased agricultural output, poverty alleviation, environmental conservation, proper and better utilisation of land and to link all land revenue and survey offices to the computer system.