Kathmandu, June 27

The government has registered an amendment to Nepal Engineering Council Act-1999, at the National Assembly to regulate engineering profession and registration process of engineers.

As per the proposed amendment, the office of Nepal Engineering Council established under the act shall be located in Kathmandu valley.  There shall be an 18-member council chaired by an engineer who is nominated by the Government of Nepal. Functions, duties and powers of the council include preparation and implementation of policies, plans and programmes in engineering profession, providing accreditation to engineering institutions and degrees awarded by them, determining qualification for those aspiring to pursue a career in engineering and issuing registration certificates to persons who pass engineering exams. The committee will conduct exams at least twice a year for registration of engineering professionals as per its curriculum.

The proposed bill stipulates a provision of prohibiting any persons from practicing engineering without getting his/her name registered with the council. It has also made a provision of a three-member Examination Committee for the registration of engineering professionals in the council.

The bill requires an educational institution to obtain accreditation from the council to run engineering programmes. After necessary inquiry into an application submitted by an educational institution, the council may grant it permanent or temporary accreditation. “If an educational institution accredited by the council fails to comply with the prescribed standard, the council may recommend the Government of Nepal for cancellation of the accreditation,” it stated.

As per the bill, the government shall appoint a registrar from among persons having attained master’s degree in engineering, with at least ten years of experience in the concerned field. The term of the registrar shall be four years. If a person practicesengineering without getting his/her name registered in the council, he/she shall beliable to punishment with a fine of up to Rs 10,000 or an imprisonment of three months, or both. “The council may initiate action against any educational institutions running engineering programmes without obtaining accreditation,” it stated.