Policy complication pushes real estate in crisis: NLHDF

Kathmandu, May 27

Business leaders said that the organised real estate sector, which has been making an important contribution to Nepal’s economic development and job creation, is currently in crisis due to policy complications.

Nepal Land and Housing Developers' Federation (NLHDF) said in a statement on Wednesday that the sector has not only kept the country’s economic activities dynamic for the past three decades but has also provided employment to thousands of people.

"However, the land ceiling regulations implemented since 2019 have caused significant difficulties for entrepreneurs," it said.

Under the new government rules, no company is allowed to hold more than 30 ropanis of land, and any land exceeding this limit is restricted from being sold or distributed.

According to real estate entrepreneurs, their core business is to purchase land, develop it, and then sell houses or apartments built on it. They consider land as their 'stock', and argue that imposing such a ceiling has brought the entire business cycle to a halt.

They further complained that when real estate activity slows down, hundreds of related industries are also affected. In particular, consumption in the steel rod and cement industries has declined, while employment—from unskilled labourers to engineers—has been directly impacted.

"In addition, entrepreneurs who have invested in real estate through bank and financial institution loans are being forced to continue paying bank interest because they are unable to sell land. They also report situations where land transfers cannot be completed," according to the Federation.

Meanwhile, many citizens who have purchased houses or apartments have also been unable to transfer ownership of the land into their names, even after making full payments.

The NHLDF expressed hopes that the upcoming budget will address this issue positively. Arguing that a 30-ropani ceiling is not practical for organised urbanisation and large-scale city development, it urged the government to relax the restriction and facilitate land transactions for commercial purposes.

Published in The Rising Nepal daily on 28 May 2026.  

Lumbini Ceramics receives NS certification

Kathmandu, Jan. 29

Lumbini Ceramics Limited has received Nepal Standard (NS) Product Certification from the Department of Standards and Metrology for its flagship tile brands Laminar and Cresta under the recently implemented NS 617:2082 standard.

According to the company, Laminar has been certified in the Fully Vitrified Tiles category (Group B Ia), while Cresta has received certification in the Porcelain Tiles category (Group B Ib).

The NS 617 standard aligns technically with India’s IS 15622 and, in certain performance parameters, exceeds the requirements of the international and European standard ISO 13006, providing Nepal with a nationally recognised, globally benchmarked framework for ceramic tile quality. “With this standard now in place, Nepali consumers have access to domestically manufactured ceramic tiles that are scientifically classified and transparently certified,” the company said in a statement on Thursday.

According to it, fully vitrified tiles are regarded as the highest category within ceramic tiles due to their high material density and near-impervious structure.

“Laminar’s fully vitrified tiles achieve an extremely low water absorption rate (≤ 0.08 per cent), rendering them highly resistant to stains, fading, abrasion, and long-term wear—ideal for residential floors and walls, high-traffic areas, wet zones, and demanding outdoor applications such as balconies and parking areas,” read the statement.

Likewise, Cresta’s porcelain tiles are designed for low water absorption levels. Porcelain tiles offer a balanced combination of durability, design flexibility, and cost efficiency.

Ashutosh Khetan, Managing Director of the company, described the certification as a landmark achievement.
“Receiving NS 617 certification in both the fully vitrified and porcelain categories is a historic moment for Nepal’s ceramic industry,” he said. “It establishes a clear, scientific, and nationally recognised benchmark for tile quality while demonstrating our ability to deliver world-class products at affordable prices through transparent classification and certification.”

Laminar and Cresta tiles are produced at Lumbini Ceramics’ state-of-the-art facility in Bardiya using Spanish and Italian glazes and advanced digital ink technology. The plant operates in full compliance with ISO 9001:2015, ISO 14001:2015, and ISO 45001:2018 standards.

Published in The Rising Nepal daily on 30 January 2026. 

Ghar Nirman to volunteer in rebuilding

 Kathmandu, Sept. 12

Ghar Nirman Foundation has announced a nationwide campaign to repair and rebuild damaged structures. Partnering with Skill Sewa Pvt. Ltd., the Foundation aims to mobilise skilled workers and resources as volunteers to restore essential public facilities to full operation.

“This is not just about repairs – it is about rebuilding the nation,” said directors Mahesh Timilsina, Satakshi Mishra and Prashant Pradhan, who are jointly leading the initiative. “We will deploy our full expertise and manpower to ensure hospitals, police stations, government offices and NGOs are brought back into service as quickly as possible.”

In a statement, the Foundation pledged comprehensive restoration services, ranging from electrical and plumbing repairs to security systems, carpentry, furniture and structural renovation. “We have the skilled workforce for every aspect of this work. Our mission is to serve the nation by applying our experience and manpower where it is needed most,” said the company.

Hospitals, police posts and government offices suffered structural losses during the recent protests led by GenZ, leaving daily life for many citizens affected. Authorities have warned that delays in restoring these facilities could obstruct critical public services nationwide, read the statement.

Appealing directly to government institutions, the Foundation urged relevant to tell their need to the company. “Our team is ready to carry out assessments and repairs without delay,” it said.

The directors stressed the symbolic importance of the damaged structures. “These buildings are not just bricks and mortar. They represent public service, people’s trust and the nation’s hope. Their restoration is our duty.”

The campaign will prioritise rapid assessment, repair and renovation to ensure there is no disruption to health, security and administrative services.

Published in The Rising Nepal daily on 13 September 2025.   

RG designs 30 landmark projects in tourism and hospitality

Kathmandu, May 20

RG Creations Nepal, a design and architecture firm based in Kathmandu, is expanding its presence in Nepal’s hospitality and nightlife sectors.

"With over 15 years of experience and a portfolio of more than 30 completed projects, the company focuses on venues such as nightclubs, pubs, lounges, event venues, and boutique hotels," it said in a statement on Tuesday.

RG Creations operates with an international sourcing and research hub, Link World Tech, in Shenzhen, China. The firm integrates global design practices with local market insights.

It said that each project is developed in response to the investor’s vision, site characteristics, and target audience. Its completed projects include Deja Vu, Victory Lounge, Full Moon, Faces Lounge, and Rokers Magic in various cities, including Kathmandu, Pokhara, Dharan, and Itahari.

Other notable projects include Rambagh Mahal, Majestic Grand, Harshah Batika, Taj Reception, Imperial Banquet, Boudha Heritage, and Royal Empire Boutique Hotel.

One of its ongoing projects is Legend Nepal Club in Lazimpat, Kathmandu which is initiated by Ramesh Karki. The project was awarded to RG Creations after he opted against outsourcing design services abroad, said Ram Giri, RG's chairman. He leads a team of architects, engineers, acousticians, and lighting specialists to deliver custom-built spaces that emphasise both functionality and visual impact.

"Our approach is deeply personalised - each project is tailor-made to reflect the investor’s vision, audience psychology and site-specific potential. Every design is a blend of innovation, cost-efficiency and elegance," Giri said.

Likewise, Director of the company Sumitra Paudel Upreti said the designer firm has contributed to the growth of tourism, hospitality and nightlife sectors.

According to the statement, RG Creations focuses on energy-efficient and user-centric design and incorporates materials and technologies that support acoustic control, lighting automation, and spatial efficiency.

The company has generated employment for over 200 individuals in technical and creative roles, and provides ongoing training and international exposure to its staff to maintain global standards.

Published in The Rising Nepal daily on 21 May 2025. 

Wood, furniture expo to be held from January 17

Kathmandu, Jan. 8

The 10^th Nepal Wood International Expo, along with the 5^th Nepal International Furniture Expo and the Nepal HomeTex and Home Décor International Expo, is set to take place on 17-19 January at the Bhrikutimandap Exhibition Centre in Kathmandu.

This international exhibition is being jointly organised by Media Space Solutions, Futurex Trade Fair and Events, and ETSIPL.

According to them, the event will feature over 100 stalls representing domestic and international brands. Companies specialising in furniture, plywood, timber tools, laminates, hardware, and home textiles will showcase their products and services. Dealers, sub-dealers, and retailers will also provide insights into the latest innovations and advancements in the wood and furniture industry.

"For the past nine years, this expo has been a significant platform for introducing cutting-edge technologies and products to the Nepali market," the organisers said in a statement.

This year’s event promises a broader participation of sectors, including furniture, plywood, laminates, home textiles, hardware, wood-related machinery and tools, furnishing materials, mattresses, raw materials, and finished products. The exhibition aims to connect global brands with the Nepali market and promote the adoption of modern technologies in local industries.

This exhibition has been instrumental in driving modernisation and growth in Nepal’s wood, furniture, and home textile industries, said the organisers. Informative seminars, interactive workshops, and live demonstrations will also be held at the venue.

According to the organisers, the expo will serve as a gateway for the adoption of globally successful practices and technologies, facilitating their availability to local businesses and industries.

Published in The Rising Nepal daily on 9 January 2025. 

DPM Paudel stresses classification of lands

Kathmandu, Dec. 13

Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Bishnu Prasad Paudel has expressed the government's readiness to listen to the grievances of the land and housing developers and entrepreneurs.

Speaking at the inaugural session of the third general convention of the Nepal Land and Housing Developers' Federation (NHLDF) in Kathmandu on Friday, DPM Paudel said, "I think the land and housing is not just a business, it's a significant part of national development drive."

He also urged the real estate entrepreneurs to have patience while also maintaining that the government must be clear about the policy to be adopted for the promotion and development of this business.

"Classification of land is an urgent need to preserve arable land and stop the fields turn into a concrete jungle," said Finance Minister Paudel.

Likewise, he said that attention should be paid to the basic infrastructure and amenities in the urban areas. Our cities need some reform in terms of planning and making them livable, and the role of land and housing as well as construction entrepreneurs is critical in this regard, he maintained.

DPM Paudel stressed conducting land and housing businesses through registered brokers or agencies by implementing the recently formulated act. The law is not yet implemented in the absence of required bylaws.

Stating that the government was in the mood to allow the private sector to enter into land pooling, he said that the ceiling of land ownership has been a hurdle for the large-size businesses in this sector.

"The policy was an instrument in the past to end the ownership of a few people over vast territories. But we need to review it and find a new course," he said.  

For example, a solar field should be expanded into hundreds of bighas of land but the current limit restricts the business of such type so the government has taken it as one of the priority issues, said DPM Paudel.

He also suggested that the housing developers could create business by targeting the Nepali diaspora as well. "Create products targeting them, the government will create a favourable policy environment for it," he said.

Kamlesh Kumar Agrawal, President of Nepal Chamber of Commerce, said that the government should immediately act to facilitate the growth of this sector. "Unnecessary regulation has also repercussions on this sector," he said.

Chandra Prasad Dhakal, President of the Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry, stated that some of the private sector's suggestions to the government have been ignored or partially addressed which would not facilitate the business in a true sense.

"The private sector now talks not only about personal or business benefits, it also considers greater social and economic benefits," he said.

Meanwhile, the general convention elected a new working committee of the organisation in the leadership of Bishnu Prasad Ghimire. He has succeeded Bhesh Raj Lohani.

Likewise, Bidur Dhamala has been elected as the senior vice-president, Raj Kumar Rai and Dipak Kunwar vice-president, Purushottam Poudyal vice-president (Bagmati Province), Roshan Bhoyodyo General Secretary and Ghanshyam Pokhrel as secretary.

Members of the working committee are Arun Stom Tripathi, Dasharath Poudel, Upendra Prasad Awasthi, Tulasi Prasad Adhikari, Bahadur Krishna Tamrakar, Lila Bahadur Adhikari, Mani Kumar Prasain and Dev Kumar Mahato. 

 Published in The Rising Nepal daily on 14 December 2024.  

NBL brings down housing loan interest to 7.7%

Kathmandu, Oct. 2

Nepal Bank Limited has announced a new housing loan product with a 7.7 per cent interest rate. The bank said in a statement that it is the affordable loan product in the market with the lowest interest rate.

Named 'Sarbasulav Awas Karja', this housing loan can be used to buy a house or apartment, build a new house, repair or maintain, and swap a loan from other banks.  

The bank has offered a maximum discount of 33.33 per cent on the service charges for loans of Rs. 500,000 to Rs.20 million for a repayment period of five to 25 years.

In addition to this, the bank has also reduced the interest rates of various loans, including auto loan and business loans. The loan limit of a business loan is up to Rs. 100 million with an interest rate of 8.28 per cent. Customers can use this loan for working capital and fixed capital management.

Similarly, the period of auto loans is five and seven years. The interest rate on auto loans is currently 7.78 per cent.

NBL is offering its services from 229 branches, 60 extension counters and 205 ATM counters across Nepal. 

 Published in The Rising Nepal daily on 3 October 2024. 

'Let's build quake resistant structures by using local resources and technology'

 Kathmandu, Jan. 15

Nepal is observing the 26^th Earthquake Safety Day 2080 on Tuesday with various awareness and educational programmes across the country.

The main ceremony of the event is being organised in Chandragiri Municipality of Kathmandu district with the slogan 'Let's also use local resources and technology, let's build an earthquake resistant structure!!', according to the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority (NDRRMA).

The country observes the Earthquake Safety Day on Magh 2 of Nepali calendar (which falls on January 16 this year) in the memory of the devastating earthquake of 1934 that killed more than 8,500 people and damaged more than 300,000 houses. Nepal started to commemorate this day since 1998.

According to Brahma Shumsher who wrote a book on the 1934 quake a year later, the quake hit central Nepal at 2:24 PM and tremors lasted for about 2 minutes. In a week following the quake, there were more than 28 aftershocks.

Since the country is said to be the 11^th in terms of the potential earthquake risks and has experienced powerful tremors in about every 100 years in the past several centuries, the Safety Day holds significance here.

Historian Mahesh Raj Pant has maintained that the oldest recorded earthquake that hit the nation was happened in 1280 BS (1223 AD).

The earthquake in 2015, which rocked the country about 81 years after the 1934 quake, killed 8,970 people and damaged about 800,000 houses, cultural heritages, education and health facilities as well as several development infrastructures.

A recent earthquake on November 13 last year killed 154 people in Jajarkot and Rukum West and damaged more than 26,000 houses.

Meanwhile, a three-year long risk assessment project undertaken by the government and Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) that concluded in February 2018, has estimated that if a 7.8 magnitude earthquake hits central Nepal in the south, about 22,000 people would die, and 44.7 per cent of the residential buildings would be damaged in the Kathmandu Valley alone.

This projection was based on the ground shaking behaviour in the Kathmandu Valley during the 2015 Gorkha Earthquake. The estimates are made for the next one and a half decades. It also projected that about 86,860 people would be injured if a 7.8 Richter scale quake hits the nation, and 1,196,080 people would be in the need of evacuation.

Meanwhile, the federal ministries, provincial governments, district administration offices, district coordination committees, local governments and National Society for Earthquake Technology (NSET) are collaborating to mark the day with various events.

It is also decided to provide posters with the slogan of Earthquake Safety Day to schools across the country through the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology, and to conduct awareness programmes related to earthquakes.

In addition, classes on earthquake safety as well as conduct artificial event practice (simulation) will be conducted at every school on that day in partnership with the concerned local government.

There have been projections of the possibility of a powerful earthquake in the western region of Nepal as this region has not received a major jolt in the last four or five centuries.

Speaking a programme in Lalitpur a couple of weeks ago, Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal 'Prachanda' said that the earthquakes in Jajarkot, Bajhang and Doti within a year have foreshadowed this.

Even a year ago, 6 people died and hundreds of houses were damaged due to Doti-Bajura earthquake.

PM Prachanda said that there is indifference in the pre-disaster risk assessment and the corresponding structures and preparations. "Therefore, the series of earthquakes this time has forced us to have risk-resistant structures and continuous preparations accordingly. Now my emphasis is on making rapid preparations for reconstruction, preparing earthquake resistant designs, making strong structures and arranging sufficient budget," he had said, "This work should not be delayed."

The government has also maintained that it will not create another reconstruction body to carry out the post-quake rebuilding in Jajarkot and Rukum West but amend the laws to further empower the NDRRMA by equipping it with resources and by strengthening its organisational structure of this authority.

PM Prachanda had already instructed the Authority to make an action plan for adequate preparations for search and rescue equipment, tents for relief and other materials to be made in all provincial godowns, district godowns and local levels.

Similarly, the Cabinet has already decided that the Chief Secretary of the government will study and submit a report regarding the insurance of all buildings and structures including personal residences and government offices. 

 Published in The Rising Nepal daily on 16 January 2024.   

8th Real Estate Expo kicks off

Kathmandu, Dec. 27

Nepal Land and Housing Developers Association (NLHDA) is organising the 8^th Real Estate Expo from Wednesday at the Bhrikutimandap Exhibition Centre in Kathmandu.

The expo will run till  December 31.

It is expected that the fair will contribute to the development and expansion of this business by providing proper information about the current situation of the real estate business and its problems and solutions to future opportunities, the NLHDA said at a press conference held in the Capital on Wednesday.

"The expo will bring together businesses and consumers who are contributing significantly to scientific, orderly and safe land development and urbanisation," said the organiser, "We are confident that the businesses will bring their latest products to the consumers and the consumers will be able to get information about the reality and real situation of Nepali real estate business."

Local and foreign exhibitors will showcase their services and products at the Expo. Earthquake-resistant houses and apartments, land planning and development, manufacturers and sellers of construction materials, engineering and architecture consultants, as well as banks and insurance companies, will participate in the fair.

Likewise, business-like electrical goods, furniture, pipes, sanitary wire fitting, paints, vehicles, decorative goods and insurance, banking and architecture will display their products and also provide related consultancy services. In addition, if the interested participants want to launch their products and services during the fair period, that will also be arranged, said Bidur Dhamala, President of the NLHDA and Coordinator of the Expo Organising Committee.

According to him, stakeholders and spectators involved in the purchase and sale of houses and apartments developed in a planned manner will be able to get detailed information about the facility, price and other aspects.

"We believe that this fair will become a common platform for businesses, investors, consumers, construction material sellers and service providers involved in housing and apartment projects. We expect that at least 65,000 visitors will visit the fair which will feature more than 60 stalls," said Dhamala. 

 Published in The Rising Nepal daily on 28 December 2023.  

Govt annuls decision made by former DPM Lamichhane on NIC

Kathmandu, Apr. 18

The government has revoked the decision made by former Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister Rabi Lamichhane regarding the National Identity Card (NIC). The meeting of the Cabinet held on Tuesday decided to scrap the decision made by the former DPM to give personal data and state security to a private company.

He had made amendments to the procedures made for interdependence and verification of the details of citizens in a secure manner through the management information system related to the NIC.

Speaking to the media after the meeting of the Council of Ministers, Government Spokesperson and Minister for Communications and Information Technology, Rekha Sharma, said that the procedures approved by the then Home Minister Lamichhane to award a contract to a private company for the management of NIC has been cancelled.

The government has also decided to form a committee to investigate how the procedure was made and passed.

She also said that the government has decided to form a separate committee to study the procedure and that the government has opened the plotting of the land which has been restricted for some years.

According to her, the government has decided to approve the first amendment of the Land Use Regulation-2023. With this, land plotting and sale has been opened. Minister Sharma said that in absence of the land use regulations, real estate transactions have been stopped, and distribution of land in inheritance has also been affected so the Council of Ministers has decided to approve the amendments in the Land Use Regulations-2023.

Minister Sharma informed that it has been decided to form a committee under the coordination of Deputy Prime Minister and Defense Minister, Purna Bahadur Khadka, to solve the problem related to land acquisition in Khokana on the Kathmandu Terai Fast Track.  The committee has three months to solve the problem. 

Published in The Rising Nepal daily on 19 April 2023. 

Qatar to help Nepali migrant workers to build homes

 Kathmandu, Aug. 2

Qatar has expressed interest in supporting Nepali migrant workers in the Gulf nation to build their house.

Ambassador of Qatar to Nepal Yousuf Bin Mohammad Al-Hail said in a meeting with journalists the other day that his country is ready to support returnee Nepali migrant workers  to build their own house.

For this, he proposed to create a labour bank in Qatar and deposit a certain amount – 10 to 20 per cent – from the monthly income of the workers. "In some years, they will save enough money to build a house for their family. Since the size of a family is not that large in Nepal, a couple of million  rupees will be enough to build a house," said Al-Hail.

According to him, it will also create an opportunity for Nepal to create integrated settlements across the country with infrastructure and facilities required.

The Qatari Envoy said that the project couldn't be implemented by Qatar alone, and there should be a bilateral agreement to make it happen. "The Nepal Rastra Bank, Ministry of Finance and Ministry of Labour Employment and Social Security should come together in this regard," he said.

Meanwhile, he expressed gratitude to Nepal and Nepali workers in Qatar for their support in the development of infrastructure for the World Cup 2022 and other construction. "We proudly admit it," said Al-Hail.

He also said that Qatar wanted to import food, water and vegetables as well as herbs and spices from Nepal. However, according to him, Nepal lacks international standard processing factories and packaging. Likewise, food and vegetables in Nepal are more expensive than in its neighbours like India, Bangladesh and Pakistan.

"Nepal should invest in the development of food value chain so that it could ensure quality in the finished goods," he said.

According to the Embassy of Qatar in Kathmandu, it has invited Nepali farmers to a 6-month long agricultural expo be organised in Doha from March to October 2023.

This international expo will feature a variety of agricultural products, technology, processing and other elements and is expected to provide an opportunity to learn about the technology, forge collaborations and find a market.

Al-Hail said that many countries from around the world are participating in the expo.

Meanwhile, the Ambassador informed that flights to and from Doha-Kathmandu will be dropped to just one a day from the current four a day in order to carry world-cup enthusiasts from the areas like Europe, Americas and East Asia.

However, the number of flights a day is expected to jump to six a day immediately after the World Cup, he said.

During the World Cup period, visitors need to go for visa process while going to Qatar, their ticket for the sport show will work as a visa. People having the required vaccination against COVID-19 need not to stay in quarantine while non-vaccinated people have to undergo a five-day quarantine in Qatar. 

Published in The Rising Nepal daily on 3 August 2022. 

Housing need of poor to be addressed thru microfinance

 Lalitpur, June 21

Executive Director of the Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB), Dr. Gunakar Bhatta has said that the central bank would be supportive in creating policy to find solutions to address the housing challenges for lower-income groups through microfinance institutions (MFIs).

Speaking at a workshop organized by the Nepal Microfinance Bankers’ Association (NMBA) with the support of Habitat for Humanity Nepal and the Australian Government through its Business Partnerships Platform, he stressed having some impactful policies to eradicate extreme poverty.

Dr. Bhatta urged the MFIs to support increasing local production.

Research conducted by Habitat Nepal in 2020 and 2021 has indicated to the opportunities for housing microfinance products targeted at low-income families.

In this research, it was found that 62 per cent of respondents planned to make home improvements, including new construction or home repairs, in the next two years. Another 26 per cent of the respondents said they had taken out loans for other purposes to invest in home improvement instead.

In addition, positive outcomes were observed after families accessed housing microfinance loans.

Citing Habitat Nepal’s own research at the workshop, Sunil Khanal, Senior Manager for Financial Inclusion, said that 65 per cent of housing microfinance clients reported enjoying greater dignity and respect in their community.

A great majority, about 80 per cent, have realised that they had more time to focus on increasing income. Habitat Nepal has been working with partner housing microfinance institutions since June 2019 to disburse more than 57,000 housing microfinance loans with over 6 billion Nepali rupees (over US$ 48 million) in capital mobilized.

The workshop recommended that the NRB should provide standard guidelines on housing microfinance in its directives to all microfinance institutions in the country.

Likewise, the government should develop a national housing microfinance policy to diversify existing microfinance lending activities, thereby increasing low-income families’ access to affordable housing and ultimately promoting adequate shelter in the country, the workshop concluded.

Speaking on the occasion, President of the NMBA, Prakash Raj Sharma, said that for the last 30 years, the mission of the MFIs was to increase access to finance and support livelihood activities. According to him, the MFIs can play an instrumental role in extending the housing finance at their doorstep.

Jeevan Bikas Laghubitta Bittiya Sanstha Limited and Sahara Nepal Saving and Credit Cooperative Society had received technical assistance for developing an appropriate and affordable housing loan product from Habitat Nepal. Jeevan Bikas highlighted their development of a viable, client-focused home improvement loan product to promote adequate shelter in the country.

Australian Ambassador to Nepal, Felicity Volk, said that long-term sustainable solutions lie in innovative and inclusive business enterprises that generate sustainable commercial returns.

“Low-income families find it difficult to build resilient houses as they lack appropriate and affordable financing options due to the collateral requirements of commercial banks. The MFIs have the networks to reach these communities, but often lack the technical capacities to deliver housing microloans to them. And that’s where a business partnership comes in,” she said.

Christy Lynn Stickney, National Director of Habitat for Humanity, said that there was a lack of finance in housing for the people of lower-income group. Incremental housing could be one area of improvement. 

Published in The Rising Nepal daily on 22 June 2022.  

Shelter for deprived families a govt priority: Jhakri

Lalitpur, Nov. 25

Minister for Urban Development, Ram Kumari Jhakri, Thursday said that the government has given priority to providing houses for the deprived families.

"Government has formulated a law to provide shelter to Dalits, Muslims and other deprived communities. People's Housing Programme (PHP) is being executed across the country to support poor families in getting a place of residence," she said while speaking at the third ‘Asia Shelter Forum (ASF)’ in Lalitpur on today.

The PHP was launched about 12 years ago which has built 24,000 units of houses in seven provinces and additional 35,000 houses are in the pipeline.

There is also a government programme to replace the thatched roofs with zinc sheets.

"About 168,000 beneficiaries are chosen for the programme and the grant is recently increased to Rs. 75,000 from the earlier purse of Rs. 50,000 per household," said Minister Jhakri.

Speaking on the occasion, Chief Executive Officer of National Reconstruction Authority (NRA), Sushil Gyawali, said that right to shelter and housing is the fundamental right in Nepal.

According to him, the government had also supported in building houses for vulnerable people, including the elderly, single women, orphans below 16 years of age and disabled people with red and blue cards - complete and with severe disability.

Of about 18,000 deprived families that lost their houses in the devastating Gorkha Earthquake 2015, government built houses for more than 14,000 families.

He stated that the reconstruction drive has also helped in policy formulation for build back better, training of masons and other construction workers and awareness building.

Tri Ratna Bajracharya, President of Nepal Engineers' Association (NEA), said that the engineers are the backbone of national development, in disaster risk reduction and building safe shelters.

He pledged the NEA's support in providing services and training to the engineers and local governments.

Likewise, Anil Pokharel, Chief Executive Officer of National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority (NDRRMA), maintained that the principles countries should follow during the disasters are same everywhere around the globe.

"All governments across Asia think about sustainable policies for disaster risk reduction and management. Subnational governments must be roped in for creating policies and mitigation process," he said.

The two-day regional conference is being hosted by the Ministry of Urban Development (MoUD) and National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority (NDRRMA) and the Ministry of Home Affairs (MoHA) with the support from the ASF Organising Committee members.

About 200 participants, including the representatives from government and non-government bodies, private sector organisations and development partners, and individuals are participating in the conference in-person while about 350 are joining it via online medium, said Dr. Dijan Bhattarai, Spokesperson for the NDRRMA.

A field meeting will be organised for the international delegates on November 27 where they will have an opportunity to witness Nepal’s reconstruction efforts and cultural heritage preservation, and to interact with local government officials and community members.

According to the organisers, this regional forum will encourage continuous dialogue between governments, non-governmental organisations, and community based organisations to ensure sustainability and institutionalisation of best practices. 

Published in The Rising Nepal daily on 26 November 2021. 

Third Asia Shelter Forum from today

Kathmandu, Nov. 24

The Ministry of Urban Development (MoUD) and National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority (NDRRMA) and the Ministry of Home Affairs (MoHA) are jointly organising the third ‘Asia Shelter Forum (ASF)’ in Lalitpur on November25-26.

The two-day conference is supported by the ASF Organising Committee members, said the organisers at a press meet organised at the Singha Durbar on Wednesday.

It will be a hybrid mode programme as the people attend it physically and virtually, said Dr. Dijan Bhattarai, Spokesperson for the NDRRMA.

About 200 participants, including the representatives from government and non-government bodies, private sector organisations and development partners, and individuals will participate in the conference in-person while about 350 will joint it via online platform.

A field meeting will be organised for the international delegates on November 27where they will have an opportunity to witness Nepal’s reconstruction efforts and cultural heritage preservation, and to interact with local government officials and community members.

Dr. Bhattarai said that the ASF 2021 is an opportunity for governments, I/NGOs, and community-based organisations to share and identify the most appropriate housing solutions for safe and dignified homes for vulnerable households through improved collaboration and networking.

According to him, this regional forum will encourage continuous dialogue between governments, non-governmental organisations, and community based organisations to ensure sustainability and institutionalisation of best practices.

Minister for Urban Development Ram Kumari Jhakri is scheduled to inaugurate the conference. Technical sessions focusing on the best practices, lessons and challenges on shelter and settlement issues and interventions from Nepal are major topics of the conference.

The conference will draw on the lessons and experiences of recent disasters and the responses in respective countries. The participants will explore best practices in achieving safe, adequate, and dignified implementation of shelter programmes that support community engagement.

The conference will promote formation of a National Shelter Forum (NSF) for effective coordination among shelter practitioners and government agencies.

“We need to have active engagement with federal, provincial and local governments and robust support system for vulnerable households at grassroots level for them access to government services including shelter assistance and socio-technical solutions,” said Engineer Minar Thapa of Housing Recovery and Reconstruction Platform (HRRP), an organising committee member.

Published in The Rising Nepal daily on 25 November 2021. 

Numerous quake damaged health facilities lie in abandon even as NRA’s term nears end

Kathmandu, Sept. 5

Reconstruction and retrofitting of more than half of the health institutions damaged in the 2015 Gorkha Earthquake has not begun even more than five years after the disaster.

Likewise, reconstruction of one-third archaeological monuments is pending while the post-quake reconstruction body National Reconstruction Authority’s term is going to expire after four months, in January 2021.

Although private house rebuilding has achieved a significant success, the development of public sector structures is rather slow.

However, the progress in government building reconstruction has been almost complete with just nine structures remaining out of 162. But the same progress is not replicated in terms of the buildings of the security agencies as more than half of such structures have remained the same after their damage in the quake.

According to the NRA statistics, reconstruction of 167 buildings of security agencies out of 216 damaged in the quake has not begun yet. Rebuilding of the damaged offices even in the Kathmandu Valley like the Hanumandhoka Police Office is yet to be done.

However, there has been a significant progress in terms of school reconstruction with just 170 buildings remaining out of the total 7,553 damaged in the tremors.

The NRA said that the delay in heritage reconstruction was due to the conflict with the local stakeholders at multiple locations, and absence of proper policy to reconstruct the historical cultural monuments like monasteries. The monastery reconstruction guidelines were prepared more than two years after the reconstruction body was formed.

Large and important heritage sites like the Nuwakot Durbar have lately witnessed the commencement of reconstruction work while the structures like Kasthamandap in the Basantapur Durbar Square and Ranipokhari are still under construction.

Public sector reconstruction

Status	Number
Target	51,099
Completed	38,398
Under-construction	12,965
Remaining	1,079

Source: NRA

Meanwhile, the housing sector reconstruction has achieved a significant success with the completion of the reconstruction of 507,623 houses of the total 790,260 families that signed the housing grant agreement with the government.

About 603,550 families have obtained the last instalment of the grant of Rs. 300,000. It means these houses will be completed very soon.

 Published in The Rising Nepal daily on 6 September 2020. 

New building code to support in design standards

 Kathmandu, Aug 7

Amendment to the National Building Code 105:1994 has ended the obligation to rely on the Indian building code to build safe and quake-resilient houses.

It has included the structural design standards which are required for making all types of building quake resilient.

A Cabinet meeting on Monday approved the updated National Building Code 2020 replacing the old one of 1994.

The code was updated as per the suggestions from the Structural Engineers Association, designers, Institute of Engineering and other stakeholders. Earlier, it was approved by a committee on building construction strengthening committee led by the secretary of the Ministry of Urban Development (MoUD).

The ministry said that the code was updated on the basis of earthquakes happened in the past two and a half decades, building codes of various countries, recent technology, research and innovations.

According to Chief of Residence Building Division at the Department of Urban Development and Building Construction (DUDBC) Nava Raj Pyakurel, the code facilitates in designing all types of buildings.

The code aims at offering process and standards for the engineering designs to construct small to high-rise buildings by utilising various construction materials.

Structural Engineer of Central Project Implementation Unit (Building) at the National Reconstruction Authority (NRA) Bipin Kumar Gautam said that different building and structural standards are maintained in the code considering the varying degree of earthquake risk.

It has opened way for the use of new technology and methods. Its index includes detail information needed to make the steel and concrete building a quake-resilient one.

Structural engineer and Professor Dr. Prem Nath Maskey said that the new code was able to address the need for the latest building design and construction.

Chief Executive Officer of the NRA Sushil Gyawali expressed hope that it would support the safe Nepal campaign by promoting quake-resilient structures.

Published in the Rising Nepal daily on 8 August 2020. 

Rs. 600 bn mobilised in post-quake rebuilding of houses

Kathmandu, Dec. 25

More than Rs. 600 billion has been mobilised in the post-quake reconstruction of the private houses in the last four years.

About 482,323 houses damaged in the devastating 2015 earthquake were rebuilt while more than 189,000 are under construction.

Approximately Rs. 200 billion, Rs. 300, 00 each, has been given to the families who lost their houses in the disaster. Similarly, Rs. 100,000 each was given to about 69,973 families for retrofitting.

"According to our estimates, each family has added at least two third money from their side to build houses which put the total housing investment at Rs. 600 billion," said Sushil Gyawali, Chief Executive Officer of the National Reconstruction Authority (NRA), speaking at a programme organised to publish a result of the study on construction sector impact on expanding the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in the country in the post-quake scenario.

He said that the reconstruction had had strong forward and backward linkages as almost all the construction materials were produced in the country.

Former Member of the National Planning Commission, Prof. Dr. Govinda Prasad Nepal said that the reconstruction hugely contributed to employment creation and women empowerment in the rural areas.

The study found that of the four major sectors of the economy – agriculture, manufacturing, wholesale and retail, and construction, the share of construction sector expanded while other sectors shrunk.

Contribution of construction sector to GDP remained roughly constant before the earthquake while it increased after the earthquake, according to the report, suggesting the important contribution of the post-earthquake reconstruction to reviving the growth.

This study also showed that housing reconstruction alone created jobs equal to 255 million man-days which is equivalent to 1.42 million people being employed by the end of fiscal 2017/18. Currently, 550,000 people are working in reconstruction of houses with jobs equal to 100 million workdays being created. 

According to the report, the reconstruction process also helped promote financial inclusion by requiring the households to open bank accounts to receive the housing grant. National Reconstruction Authority records show that about 770,000 registered beneficiaries have opened bank accounts, out of which 30 per cent bank accounts belong to women. 

A total of 769,926 households received first tranche of grant. Out of them, as many as 621,449 beneficiaries received the second tranche of assistance and a total of 525,233 received the third installment of government’s assistance. The government has been providing Rs. 300,000 in grant to build a house to a beneficiary whose house was completely damaged and has no other houses.

Likewise, reconstruction of ,5063 public schools, 25,128 school rooms, 665 health institutes, 380 archaeological sites, 311 government buildings and 165 buildings of security agencies has also been completed, according to the authority. 

The study was conducted by the NRA, National Democratic Institute for International Affair (NDI) USAID and SEJON.

Published in The Rising Nepal daily on 26 December 2019. 

Two million houses needed to fulfill right to housing

Kathmandu, July 22

Minister for Finance Dr. Yuba Raj Khatiwada said on Monday that the government had to build about 2 million houses if the right to housing was to be fulfilled as provisioned in the Constitution.

"Decent housing is included in the Constitution as the fundamental right of every citizen. But it is a distant dream given the limited resources currently available," he said while addressing the inaugural ceremony of conference on 'The path to universal social protection in Nepal: the role of integration and harmonisation'.

The government had launched Janata Awas Programme in 2010 to provide shelter to the deprived communities, Dalits and people in vulnerable conditions.

Social protection is a fundamental right of every citizen in the country as it is enshrined in our Constitution so it’s a constitutional process, not political, said the Minister.

FM Dr. Khatiwada said that the government needed to increase its institutional capacity and resource mobilisation to fulfil the constitutional demands of social protection.

However, he maintained that work and employment were the best and sustainable ways of social protection while other measures were only for those who were unable to join the labour market.

"Enhancing the capability of every citizen in the society is the main aim of the government. People must be benefitted in a socially justified way," he said.

Dr. Khatiwada said that social protection was a powerful instrument of the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

"I believe that the income of poorer households should grow faster than the richer ones. For this, you have to invest in the rural infrastructure and job creation," he said.

According to him, the government is working to make the country a welfare state in medium term.

Old-age pension, youth scholarships, child grant, decent housing were some of the social protection schemes in practice in Nepal.

Minister Dr. Khatiwada said that there was need of consolidating all the schemes to eliminate the possibility of duplication and mulling to make them sustainable.

Jasmine Rajbhandary, Senior Social Protection Specialist at the World Bank, said that the establishment of unique beneficiary identification system and integrated database were the major challenges in social protection practice in the country.

Stating that social protection was needed to address inclusion, poverty and resilience, she maintained that the focus should be shifted to establishing an integrated policy framework, harmonising system, enhancing delivery and improving the design.

About 35 per cent Nepalis are covered by the social protection schemes like old age pension, single women pension, disability grant, child grant, mother protection and earthquake relief.

The seminar was jointly organised by the government and German Development Agency (GIZ).

Published in The Rising Nepal daily on 23 July 2019. 

52 per cent quake-victims rebuild their houses

Kathmandu, June 12

The National Reconstruction Authority (NRA) said on Wednesday that about 52 per cent beneficiaries of the post-quake reconstruction process have completed rebuilding of their houses.

"Of the total 767,248 beneficiaries, 52 per cent have completed house reconstruction while 30 per cent houses are under construction. That makes an achievement of about 82 per cent," said Chief Executive Officer of the NRA Sushil Gyawali at the meeting of the Federal Parliament's Sustainable Development and Good Governance Committee.

Construction of 405,095 houses has completed and 228,885 are under construction. Of the total beneficiaries, 99 per cent have got the first instalment of the reconstruction grant of Rs. 50,000, 76 per cent have received the second tranche of Rs. 150,000 and 57 received the third tranche of Rs. 100,000.

Padam Kumari Sapkota of Kubinde, Sindhupalchowk stands
in front of her recently rebuilt house. 

"We have been trying to convert the quake as an opportunity and applying 'Build Back Better' approach in rebuilding of the private houses, schools, health facilities, heritage, security agency and government building. Top most priority is given to the private houses," Gyawali said.

He reiterated that the reconstruction of the quake damaged structure would be completed within the stipulated timeframe.

Lawmaker Khim Kumar BK appreciated the NRA for its efforts in the post-quake reconstruction and requested it to refuse the compliant submitted with wrong information.

Another lawmaker Mahesh Kumar Mahara suggested addressing the issues of the landless people.

Likewise, lawmaker Ramesh Jung Rayamajhi criticised the integrated settlement for not having sheds for cattle. He drew attention that there might have been the misappropriation of funds in the reconstruction projects implemented through the local consumers committee.

Published in The Rising Nepal daily on 13 June 2019.

N-REO established to promote fair real estate business

Kathmandu, May 30

 Nepal Real Estate Organisation (N-REO) is formed with an aim of making the real estate business fair and managed.

President of the N-REO Naresh Singh said on Thursday that the organisation was established to discourage unhealthy competition in real estate transactions and find out actual price of the land and house.

"It is pretty difficulty for an individual to buy a small piece of land to build a house even in the small towns. Brokers are setting the price haphazardly and the buyers are suffering," he said.

He said that the N-REO will try to set the fair price of the land and provide it to the buyers at the reasonable price.

The newly established organisation has prepared Multi-Listing System to inform the actual price of the land to the sellers and buyers of land. The system allows the brokers to post the actual price of the land on its platform and the buyers can have access to that information. All the member brokers of the orgnisation can post the price.

Former secretary and chairman of Institute for Urban Research Studies Kishore Thapa said that the new organisation had the potential to bring about a great change in real estate business.

"Real estate business in the developed countries runs in the MLS which prevents the buyers from getting cheated," he said.

Senior Vice-President of Nepal Chamber of Commerce Rajendra Malla expressed hope that the institutional arrangement to make the business fair would help both the sellers and buyers in the real estate business.

Published in The Rising Nepal daily on 31 May 2019.