Thursday, October 20, 2022

World Habitat Day underscores inclusive urban development

Kathmandu, Oct. 16

The Ministry of Urban Development (MoUD) has said that it has been implementing inclusive principles in urban development plan, housing plan and building construction.

“The right to housing is included in the constitution of Nepal as the fundamental right. Accordingly, Right to Housing Act, 2018 was formulated to protect and respect the right and provide house to the homeless citizens,” said the ministry in a press statement issued on the occasion of the World Habitat Day 2022 on Sunday. The day is marked on 17 October every year. It was first celebrated in 1986.

The government has been implementing Janata Awas Programme and Safe Citizen Housing Programme as well, said Ram Chandra Dangal, Joint Secretary of the MoUD and Coordinator of the main organisaing committee of the Habitat Day celebrations.  

This year’s World Habitat Day is being celebrated with ‘inclusive urban development’ and commitment to it.

In Nepal, 66.08 per cent population resides in urban areas. However, most of the municipalities in the country are just the urban administrative structures where basic urban facilities such as proper road, clean drinking water, reliable electricity, quality education and health services are not available.

Dangal said that urban management has long been the main agenda of all the countries across the globe. Likewise, the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 11 has an aim for inclusive and sustainable urbanisation. According to Dangal, governments at all level in Nepal have been implementing this goal.

To mark the event, the MoUD, Department of Urban Development and Building Construction and UN Habitat are jointly organising an interaction workshop on Monday where experts will discuss ‘inclusive urbanisation’.

Published in The Rising Nepal daily on 17 October 2022.

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