Emphasising on the strict implementation of the National Building Code-2006 in all 133 municipalities across the country, the government has vowed to take legal action against the local authorities failing to implement the code for the new construction, according to a newly released government document on Urban Planning and Building Construction.

The ‘Basic Guideline on ‘Settlement Development, Urban Planning Building Construction-2015’ prepared by the Ministry of Federal Affairs and Local Development mentions that the authorities found approving designs and construction of buildings owned by public entity and local authority without adopting the existing building code would face legal action. Besides, the municipalities and the VDCs with more than 1,000 households are required to follow the code to allow new construction.

While the building code has been in place since 1994, only a handful of municipalities, including Kathmandu , had followed it before approving the construction works.

Lack of awareness, negligence and ignorance from the public and poor oversight from concerned authorities have led to the failure in proper implementation of the code, said Shiva Hari Sharma, joint secretary at the ministry. “Individual house owners never felt the necessity to follow the building code while building their houses, while the authorities were found to turn a blind eye to its necessity while approving the designs for monetary benefits,” he said.

However, the need of proper building code and safety standards for building construction was felt soon after the April 25 earthquake and its aftershocks caused severe damage to the structures in Kathmandu and 14 other districts.

The basic guideline has also called for the conservation of public and government-owned plots of land, declaring them “open spaces”. The open spaces should be transformed into green parks and gardens, it says.

As per the guideline, the new municipalities and Village Development Committees beyond Kathmandu Valley should prepare building codes based on the Building By-laws Model Guideline-2015 and Fundamental Guideline for Urban Planning-2015 and work towards its effective implementation. Similarly, those municipalities which have already approved the existing building code should incorporate the latest guideline on building construction and urban planning and work towards its effective enforcement.

source: the kathmandu post,18 august 2015