Kathmandu, Sept 22: Demand has been made for involving the private sector in urban development initiatives. 

A delegation from the Nepal Land and Housing Developers’ Federation (NLHDF) today called on Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Urban Development, Prakash Man Singh, with the demand for their partnership in integrated land and housing development. 

Federation President Bhesh Raj Lohani urged the Minister who also takes charge of Acting Prime Minister about the need for a legal provision allowing a ‘land pooling’, according to the Minister’s Secretariat. He urged the government to adjust this provision in the Urban Development Act.

In response, the Acting Prime Minister said the government is positive towards the idea of involving the private sector in the systematic development of urban areas. So far, the land pooling right is with the government. 

The delegation also wanted the government to introduce and implement a provision allowing developers to sell 20 percent of apartments to foreigners and to do away with the rule to keep land occupied by the apartment area in the registration of developers after the sale. (RSS)