KATHMANDU: The Parliamentary Development Committee today directed the government to strictly follow the quake-proof building standard while constructing new structures.

A meeting of the parliamentary committee held today under the chairmanship Rabindra Adhikary has decided to direct the government to determine quality of materials being used for the construction, ensure use of quality products, train construction workers and entrepreneurs, issue licence according to their appropriate classification immediately and allow only those to work who have the licence.

According to Adhikary, the committee has told the government that both rural and urban settlements should only be extended after preparing necessary infrastructure in the future and land use policy should be prepared for the development of different areas, including residential, commercial, industrial and agricultural areas.

He said the government should make it clear to the people that whether the affected settlements should be relocated or reconstructed.