Kathmandu, 13 October 2025— Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation, Physical Infrastructure and Transport, and Urban Development Minister Kulman Ghising stated that the Integrated Settlement Program has not been successful because it has failed to connect the social, environmental, and economic aspects of people.
On the occasion of World Habitat Day, at a program organized on Monday in the capital by the Department of Urban Development and Building Construction and the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat), he emphasized that every year, huge losses of life and property occur because settlements are not established in safe locations identified through geographical risk assessments.
In some parts of the country, we built integrated settlements, but because we failed to connect the communities there with social, environmental, and economic aspects, the developed settlements appeared empty. Currently, the biggest challenge is to make the unplanned settlements in rural and urban areas safe and organized.”
Minister Ghising said, “Despite providing early warnings to prevent monsoon-related disasters, every year there are significant losses of life and property because we have not been able to map geographically risky areas and relocate settlements to safe locations. Now, it has become necessary to conduct geographical mapping and relocate unsafe settlements.”
He mentioned that a master plan for urban development would be prepared, developing one city as a model, constructing infrastructure accordingly, which could then be replicated in the development of other cities.
“There has been a practice of developing cities by fragmenting land. Now, this needs to end, and we must move forward by preparing an integrated master plan for urban development,” Ghising said. “Urban beauty cannot be maintained without making riverbanks attractive, so it is necessary to manage the settlements along the river corridors of the Kathmandu Valley.”
He pointed out that infrastructure such as roads, electricity, telephone, and drinking water has reached rural areas, but the number of settlements there is declining.
“Zero Tolerance for Irregularities”
Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation, Physical Infrastructure and Transport, and Urban Development Minister Kulman Ghising stated that he will adopt a zero-tolerance policy toward corruption, irregularities, and delays in the ministries and agencies under his charge, and those found involved will be punished accordingly.
At a program organized by the Department of Urban Development and Building Construction, Minister Ghising warned employees engaged in wrongdoing that strict action will be taken against them. He also mentioned that the Urban Development Ministry, which should focus on major city development projects, has been diverting into fragmented plans outside its primary mandate.