Kathmandu – The government has initiated preparations to formulate a 50-year master plan for the long-term urbanization of the Kathmandu Valley.
On the occasion of the completion of the 650th week of the Bagmati Clean-up Mega Campaign, Minister for Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation, as well as Minister for Physical Infrastructure, Transport, and Urban Development, Kulman Ghising announced at a program held in the capital today that a master plan with a long-term vision is being prepared for the planned development of the Kathmandu Valley.
Minister Ghising said, “Taking into account the population growth and urban expansion expected in the Kathmandu Valley over the next 50 years, all infrastructure projects — including sewerage, electricity, drinking water, roads, waste management, and the establishment of treatment plants — will be advanced in an integrated manner.” He further added, “A city cannot become beautiful unless its rivers are clean. For that, a joint effort and major investment from the federal, provincial, and local levels are necessary.”
Ghising emphasized the need for a long-term solution for the purification and management of rivers and streams in the Kathmandu Valley. He stated that citizen-led initiatives such as the Bagmati Clean-up Mega Campaign have served as an inspiration for government plans.
On the occasion, the chief campaigner of the Bagmati Clean-up Mega Campaign and former Chief Secretary Leelamani Poudyal stated that the clean-up initiative has evolved into a social movement — one that not only removes physical waste but also purifies people’s mindset and behavior. He suggested that the empowered Bagmati Civilization Integrated Development Committee should give priority to sewage management and treatment.
The committee has recently prepared a 20-year action plan for the period 2025–2045. The plan includes goals such as the conservation and enhancement of water resources in rivers including the Bagmati, preservation of biodiversity, sustainable urban development, improvement of water quality and quantity, and protection of river flow areas and public land.
The committee stated that an estimated budget of around NPR 225 billion will be required to implement this action plan.
