Urban Development Act to be formulated within current fiscal year: DPM Singh

Kathmandu, Sept 10: Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Urban Development Prakashman Singh assured that the Urban Development Act will be drafted within the current fiscal year 2024/25.     

Responding to the queries raised concerning his Ministry in the meeting of the House of Representatives on Tuesday, DPM Singh vowed to take forward the restructuring of the Kathmandu Valley Development Authority by devising the Act.     

Parliamentarian Prem Suwal questioned whether the government had plans and strategies for farming and maintaining forest areas in all local levels. He also inquired about effectiveness of the KVDA's operations.     

DPM Singh responded that action will be taken against those real estate businessmen who fragment land without obtaining permission from the Authority.     

According to him, the new Act will mandate that any physical development plans could be implemented or operated after allocating at least 15 per cent of the total lands for road and at least five percent for open areas.     

He clarified that the local level was entrusted with the responsibility to prepare plans for land use and to implement them while his Ministry would provide necessary support if the local levels request assistance for development of settlements.     

According to him, local level authorities are responsible for framing land use plans covering land of 10 sectors such as agricultural, commercial, industrial, forest land, wetland and area of heritage and cultural importance among others.     

He shared that the Town Development Act-2045 BS was currently in force to build new towns and provide necessary amenities and ensure coverage of health services, education among others to the residents of those towns.(RSS)