Global Surveyors Day Celebrated in Nepal

Buddhi Narayan Shrestha

IP President, Nepal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (NICS)

Nepal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (NICS) in association with the government Survey Department celebrated ‘Global Surveyors Day’ in Nepal amidst a function in the Geodetic Survey Hall in Kathmandu. The program was chaired by Punya Prasad Oli, President of NICS. Secretary- government of Nepal, Ministry of Agriculture, Land Management and Cooperatives Gopi Nath Mainali was the Chief Guest. Director General of Survey Department Ganesh Prasad Bhatta was the guest.  Other dignitaries were the former Survey Director Generals Buddhi Narayan Shrestha (IP President Nepal Institution of Chartered Surveyors-NICS), Rabin Kaji Sharma, Toya Nath Baral and Rajaram Chhatkuli. Similarly, Survey Deputy Director Generals Suresh Man Shrestha, Niraj Manandhar and Sabir Hussain were on the dais. Other participants were the Treasurer Rajendra Prasad Maratha, General Secretary Shambhu Gyawali and members of NICS. Chief Survey Officers, Survey Officers, Surveyors and staff of various Divisions and Branches of Survey Department had participated the program. Government owned national newspaper Gorkhapatra Daily has published the news of the Day.

The program was inaugurated by the Secretary of the Ministry lighting the traditional lamp Paanas, as the symbol of enlightenment. During the program, the Secretary released a book entitled ‘Transliteration of Technical Terms from English to Nepali’ authored by Punya Prasad Oli, NICS President.

NICS General Secretary Shambhu Gyawali welcomed all the participants, dignitaries on behalf of NICS. He also highlighted the importance of Global Surveyors Day and mentioned that it is necessary to expand the importance of Nepali Surveyors.

In the program immediate Past President of NICS and former Survey Director General Buddhi Narayan Shrestha spoke :

Today is the Global Surveyors Day which is going to be celebrated in various countries of the world. International Federation of Surveyors (FIG) has observed the Day with especially CLGE (Europe), NSPS (USA) and it was said that it is very important for the world to reflect on the work that surveyors do. It was said that it is essential to know what impact of various kinds of surveyors can have all over the world. Furthermore, first edition of the Global Surveyors Day is specially marked at the World Bank Land and Poverty Conference in Washington DC, USA with representation of FIG, CLGE and NSPS and many other Surveyors and others from around the world who are in Washington DC. FIG stated that it is the hope that this day is being celebrated around the world. It can be celebrated in many/different ways, and it is up to the national Surveyors to find their best way to celebrate the day. As part of the celebrations initiated by FIG, a Round Table was placed to enable surveying professionals to discuss important topics in today’s world, followed by an evening reception in Washington DC. At the same time a site: www.GlobalSurveyorsDay.com was launched.

Shrestha further said, now we are here in this moment to observe and celebrate the Day in Nepal as well. FIG is the main umbrella of the Surveyors of the globe. FIG is a United Nations and World Bank recognized non-governmental organization of national member associations and other affiliated members from over 120 countries,  Nepal is one of them. Nepal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (NICS) is the Member Association. Government of Nepal Survey Department is the Affiliate Member and Land Management Training Center is the Academic Member of FIG from Nepal. FIG has determined the norms and standard, specification and modality of surveying, mapping and GIS of the world. FIG is is a UN-accredited organisation which represents the interests of surveyors throughout the world.

Shrestha also mentioned further more as followings points:

Why Global Surveyors Day to be observed ?

Various organizations and agencies observe their World Day in their own way in one particular day of the year. For example, World Womens Day will be celebrated on the 8^th of March. In the same way, International Labour Day is   observed on 1^st of May every year. So now it is started to mark the Global Surveyors Day every year. In order to highlight the importance of a Surveyor, their job and the field work all over the world, the date 21 March has been chosen and named Global Surveyors Day. It is necessary to highlight that the tools as surveying, mapping and related GIS data and materials will be prepared and produced by the Surveyors, which are necessary for the planning and implementation of various economic development of the country. Nepal has a huge potentiality of hydro-power generation. To plan and execute the hydro-power project, at first it needs accurate and exact maps and related data. The Nepali Surveyors generate these materials and the concerned Engineers use it as their essential tool. So is the case for road construction project, urban/rural development programs, tourism development planning, so on and so forth in Nepal. So these works of Surveyors should be highlighted and communicated through observing the Global Surveyors Day, also in Nepal.

Who are the Surveyors ?

According to FIG publication number-2 (1991), a surveyor is a professional person with the academic qualifications and technical expertise to conduct one, or more, of the following activities;

• To determine, measure and represent land, three-dimensional objects, point-fields and trajectories;
• To assemble and interpret land and geographically related information,
• To use that information for the planning and efficient administration of the land, the sea and any structures thereon; and,
• To conduct research into the above practices and to develop them.

What are the ethics and conduct of a Surveyor ?

According to FIG publication-17 (1998), Surveyors must have Integrity, Independence, Care and competence Surveyors duty is to

• maintain confidentiality about the affairs of their current and former clients and employers unless required by law to make disclosures;
• avoid conflicts of interest;
• take environmental concerns into account in their operations and activities;
• recognise the interests of the public when providing services to their clients or employers; and
• conduct their work to the best of their ability, giving due consideration to the rights of all parties

Regarding the Code of Professional Conduct, a Surveyor must :

• exercise unbiased independent professional judgement;
• assume responsibility for all work carried out by their professional and non-professional staff;
• avoid any appearance of professional impropriety;
• Make no fraudulent charges for services rendered.

 

It is important that Nepali professional Surveyors must be affiliated with the FIG through their national association, Nepal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (NICS). In the mean time, Nepali Surveyors must obtain Survey License to make professional practices, as the medical Doctors get their licences from the Nepal Medical Council, also for those who work in government Hospitals.

Licentiate Surveyors of the world

• Charles Bellamy of Laramine State of Wyoming had obtained the Engineer’s or Surveyor’s License in 1907. Other license holders were:
• George Washington (First President)- USA,
• Alexander Forrest- Western Australia, Joseph Murphy- London UK, Robert Gossett Woodthorpe- Captain Surveyor of India 1880,
• George Everest, Surveyor General of India (1830-1843). These are some of the examples.

Some of the Nepali Surveyors (or worked in Nepal) are as followings :

• Colonel Karna Shumsher JBR, Director of Survey Department
• Netra Bahadur Thapa, Director of Survey Department
• Tek Bahadur Rayamajhi, Director of Survey Department
• JRG Harrop, Director of Survey Department (UNDP deputed)
• ZM Wiedner, Deputy Director of Survey Department (UNDP deputed)
• Arjun Bahadur Basnyat, Director General of Survey Department
• Buddhi Narayan Shrestha, Director General of Survey Department (License Holder)
• Ram Naresh Singh, Director General of Survey Department
• Punya Prasad Oli, Director General of Survey Department (License Holder)
• Baburam Acharya, Director General of Survey Department
• Toya Nath Baral, Director General of Survey Department
• Rabin Kaji Sharma, Director General of Survey Department
• Krishna Raj BC, Director General of Survey Department
• Rajaram Chhatkuli, Director General of Survey Department
• Nagendra Jha, Director General of Survey Department (License Holder)
• Madhu Sudan Adhikari, Director General of Survey Department

 

At the end, Shrestha suggested that surveying, mapping system and GPS/GIS activities of Nepal should be more scientific as the norms and standards set by FIG.

 

As the chief guest of the program, Secretary of the Ministry Gopi Nath Mainali expressed that Global Surveyors Day will create awareness to the Surveyors of Nepal on their services to the society.  It will help to resolve the issues in connection to perform the surveying and mapping activities. It has to make well manage the works of Surveyors on the land, above the crust and underneath the surface of the world. Mainali further said, Surveyors must be active. They must author their professional books and articles. Their profession should be respectful and take moral accountability. The maps which are necessary for the development of economic project must be correct and reliable. It will be co-ordinated by the government organizations.

In the program, Director General Ganesh Bhatta opined that we have to be good and professional Surveyors. Role of the Surveyors is important for the nation. Maps are the basic tool for the development of infrastructure in the country. Private and public sector Surveyors must have good co-operation and co-ordination to prepare scientific maps and accurate data, needed for the implementation of various projects for the benefit of the people.

From the chair of the program, Punya Prasad Oli thanked all the dignitaries who made the program successful. He also expressed that Surveyors must make their profession successful writing articles and books on the background of their knowledge and work experience. It will also be a kind of service to the people of the society.

As the master of ceremony (MC) of the program, Treasurer of NICS Rajendra Prasad Maratha gave the vote of thanks to all the members of NICS, Survey Officers and  high ranking Survey officials who were present in the program. He informed that NICS is going to conduct the next batch of  training on Real Estate Valuation in a near future. He requested to send trainees from various organizations. He also informed that ten trainees from the friendly country Bhutan will be participating in the training. The subject matter of  real estate valuation is concerned in one of the ten commissions of FIG.