Chapter 10
Preparation and Adoption of Risk
Sensitive Land Use Plans in the New
Federal Context of Nepal
Chandra Laxmi Hada, Rajib Shaw, and Anil Pokhrel
Abstract Nepal is one of the most disaster-risk countries in the world. Increase
in frequency and severity—particularly for floods, landslides, and fires and unpredictability of disaster events such as earthquake, is overwhelming Nepal’s already
limited disaster risk reduction and management (DRRM) capacities and impeding
sustainable development progress. Rapid urban growth fueled by migration, high
levels of poverty and inequality, unplanned urban developments, climate change, and
a culturally pervasive sense of fatalism are the key reasons for increased disaster risk
in Nepal. Despite the increased awareness along with preparedness plans, programs,
and projects on DRRM, the levels of risk continue to grow. To reduce risk, there
are a number of disaster-resilient planning techniques used, among which, the Risk
Sensitive Land Use Planning (RSLUP) has been regarded as an evidence-based tool
to understand risk, plan and to reduce risk. In Nepal, until so far only eight RSULPs
have been prepared, but its use as a planning tool is increasingly getting popular.
In the new federal structure, the municipalities have been given full responsibilities
for developing the policy legislations, standards for local level development plans
and projects. Further, there has been tremendous growth in the generation of hazard,
exposure, and vulnerability data fundamental to the preparation of RSLUPs. In this
context, it is important to look at an evidence-based land use planning approach
as a core element for future development in municipal governments to understand
risk while undertaking land use planning, and to integrate RSLUP into the municipal planning process including sectoral plans. This chapter would focus on how to
effectively enhance collaborative, participatory, and interactive approach for risksensitive land use planning, and fully integrate into a mandatory planning process.
The research is to postulate a framework that enables collaborative, participatory,
and iterative approach for the implementation of the RSLUP through integration in
C. L. Hada (B)
SPURS/MIT, Cambridge, USA
e-mail: clhada@yahoo.com
R. Shaw
Keio University, Tokyo, Japan
A. Pokhrel
Plan8 Risk Consulting, Kathmandu, Nepal
© Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2021
R. Djalante et al. (eds.), Integrated Research on Disaster Risks, Disaster Risk Reduction,
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-55563-4_10
175
Preparation and Adoption of Risk
Sensitive Land Use Plans in the New
Federal Context of Nepal
Chandra Laxmi Hada, Rajib Shaw, and Anil Pokhrel
Abstract Nepal is one of the most disaster-risk countries in the world. Increase
in frequency and severity—particularly for floods, landslides, and fires and unpredictability of disaster events such as earthquake, is overwhelming Nepal’s already
limited disaster risk reduction and management (DRRM) capacities and impeding
sustainable development progress. Rapid urban growth fueled by migration, high
levels of poverty and inequality, unplanned urban developments, climate change, and
a culturally pervasive sense of fatalism are the key reasons for increased disaster risk
in Nepal. Despite the increased awareness along with preparedness plans, programs,
and projects on DRRM, the levels of risk continue to grow. To reduce risk, there
are a number of disaster-resilient planning techniques used, among which, the Risk
Sensitive Land Use Planning (RSLUP) has been regarded as an evidence-based tool
to understand risk, plan and to reduce risk. In Nepal, until so far only eight RSULPs
have been prepared, but its use as a planning tool is increasingly getting popular.
In the new federal structure, the municipalities have been given full responsibilities
for developing the policy legislations, standards for local level development plans
and projects. Further, there has been tremendous growth in the generation of hazard,
exposure, and vulnerability data fundamental to the preparation of RSLUPs. In this
context, it is important to look at an evidence-based land use planning approach
as a core element for future development in municipal governments to understand
risk while undertaking land use planning, and to integrate RSLUP into the municipal planning process including sectoral plans. This chapter would focus on how to
effectively enhance collaborative, participatory, and interactive approach for risksensitive land use planning, and fully integrate into a mandatory planning process.
The research is to postulate a framework that enables collaborative, participatory,
and iterative approach for the implementation of the RSLUP through integration in
C. L. Hada (B)
SPURS/MIT, Cambridge, USA
e-mail: clhada@yahoo.com
R. Shaw
Keio University, Tokyo, Japan
A. Pokhrel
Plan8 Risk Consulting, Kathmandu, Nepal
© Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2021
R. Djalante et al. (eds.), Integrated Research on Disaster Risks, Disaster Risk Reduction,
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-55563-4_10
175