KATHMANDU, March 20: The government is preparing to tighten laws on building construction to curb illegal and arbitrary practices. The new measures target those who construct buildings without approval, deviate from approved designs, or ignore building standards.
The Ministry of Urban Development (MoUD) has drafted the “Building (Second Amendment) Bill, 2082 BS” to amend the Building Act, 2055 BS. The draft, now published on the MoUD’s website, is open for public feedback. Under the proposed amendments, constructing a building without approval from the relevant authority could result in fines of up to Rs 500,000 and the suspension of government services.
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According to the draft, if a building is constructed without design and plan approval, or in violation of the approved plan or building code, local authorities must immediately halt construction. Authorities can impose fines up to Rs 500,000 for buildings constructed without any approved plan, or up to Rs 200,000 if approved plans are altered without re-approval, and may order the demolition of such buildings or parts of them. Properties may also be frozen until demolition orders are executed, and utilities such as water, electricity, and telephone services can be cut or restricted, with concerned offices required to comply in writing.
The MoUD will have the authority to monitor and inspect whether local levels have approved designs and ensured construction complies with the building code. Local authorities must provide requested design and plan documents during such inspections. The draft also emphasizes proper record-keeping, requiring ministries and local authorities to maintain updated records of all buildings in line with approved plans, which can be entered into an electronic system.
A high-level committee on building construction will be formed under the Secretary of the MoUD. Members will include Joint Secretaries overseeing local levels from the Ministry of Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs and the Ministry of Federal Affairs and General Administration. The committee will also include the Director General of the Bureau of Nepal Bureau of Standards and Metrology, the Dean of Tribhuvan University’s Institute of Engineering, and a head or expert representative from the Nepal Academy of Science and Technology (NAST). The draft allows for up to three additional experts, including one woman nominated by the MoUD, to be part of the committee.
Through these amendments, the government aims to bring transparency, accountability, and strict enforcement to Nepal’s construction sector—ensuring safer buildings and discouraging arbitrary construction.
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