Pokhara enforcing building codes strictly

Pokhara Metropolitan City has begun regulating buildings that were constructed without adhering to building codes. According to PMC officials, the metropolis is home to an estimated 150,000 cemented buildings. “A large number of them are found to have violated building codes,” said Ravi Chandra Ghimire, an engineer with Pokhara Metropolitan City.

No comprehensive research has been conducted on how many buildings in Pokhara were constructed without following the required codes. This is partly due to frequent changes in regulations driven by various ruling authorities. Prior to the establishment of local governments, buildings exceeding three stories for residential purposes were not permitted. 

After the Nepal National Building Code, 2015 came into force and the local governments were formed in 2017, Pokhara Metropolitan City conducted a survey on building construction in Pokhara under the leadership of Engineer Bharat Raj Pahari. “We have now completed work on ensuring standard norms for buildings,” Dhan Raj Aacharya, Mayor of Pokhara Metropolitan City, said, addressing a program organized recently in Pokhara. He also announced that Pokhara would be declared a paperless city through the implementation of an electronic building permit system.

According to him, this system will maintain transparency in the building approval process and provide the public with a faster and more straightforward way to handle administrative tasks related to building construction. Efforts to manage buildings have already begun, officials of the metropolis say. The Pokhara Metropolitan City Office has published standard requirements for building construction, urging adherence to the Floor Area Ratio (FAR) for both residential and business buildings.

To enforce the new standards, PMC has taken various initiatives. It has tasked ward offices with mapping all buildings within their jurisdictions. Likewise, it recently issued a notice to triple fines for those who violate building codes. “Pokhara is not just the headquarters of Gandaki Province; it is also the tourism capital of the country and a business hub,” said Engineer Pahari. “With almost 5,000 buildings added every year, urban management is worsening. Strict adherence to building codes is essential.”