The 2015 earthquake was devastating and it has led to the amendment of several government policies regarding houses and building. Many reforms are to be made regarding construction and the guidelines need reconsideration too. The reform committee has made amends to previous guidelines and is awaiting a Cabinet nod.
Recently published building guidelines by the government deny the building of houses on plots smaller than 2.8 aana. While roads on residential areas must have a minimum width of six meters.
Although there was no specific regulation regarding the width of the road, 80 square metres (2.5 aana approx) was required to build new houses. While semi-detached housing shall not exceed three storeys.
The draft guidelines also state guidelines that require outer pillars of a house to be built at least one metre within the boundary of the plot. Houses cannot be erected on plots filled with more than one-metre layer of soil. Unlike before homeowners now, need prior approval to construct balconies.
The reformed guidelines make soil testing and seismic analysis mandatory for constructing high-rising buildings taller than five storeys. Land and house pooling projects for commercial purposes will need approval from the local body. The local development authority and Urban Development Committees have been entrusted with overseeing land transactions. They will be responsible for undertaking construction of communal residences and public buildings.
Any structure other than fences, gardens and sewerage shan’t be built on riverbanks. While structures and buildings have to be at least 10 meters apart from small streams and 30 meters from rivers.
These guidelines clearly mention the construction plan to be made by professionals and violation of these standards will result in punishment by the law.
