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C. L. Hada et al.
municipal development plan. This study will draw on past examples of RSLUP in
urban municipalities in Nepal. The unique needs of vulnerable population, including
socially excluded groups, will be included in RSLUPs, and activities that address
risk. The developed RSLUP framework will serve as a model for other municipalities
in Nepal, which is very relevant to the new federal system in the country.
Keywords Nepal · Risk sensitive land use planning · Disaster risk · Urban ·
Municipality · Restructuring
10.1 Introduction
10.1.1 Overview of Disaster Risk in Urban Municipalities
Nepal is vulnerable to multiple natural hazards—floods, landslides, fires, earthquakes, glacier lake outburst floods, and disease outbreaks. The 2015 Nepal earthquake and its aftershocks caused over US$ 7 billion in damages and losses and
killed nearly 9,000 people (Source Ministry of Home Affairs -MoHA, Nepal). The
capital city Kathmandu including other cities within Kathmandu valley is the world’s
most at-risk seismic urban area. The high urban density, haphazard planning, and
largely unimplemented building codes have compounded potential earthquake risk
in most urban areas. Nepal’s current population is estimated at 28.4 million, and
it is projected that by 2030 will be 33.3 million and by 2050 will be 36.4 million
(World Population Projections 2050). The total population was 26.5 million in 2011,
and only 17.1% of the total population lived in 58 municipalities. The Constitution of Nepal 2015 has declared the country a Federal Democratic Republic with
7 provinces, 77 districts, and 753 municipalities (6 metropolitan cities, 11 submetropolitan cities, 276 municipalities, and 450 rural municipalities). A total of
293 municipalities out of a total of 753 municipalities are classified as urban municipalities that contributes more than 60% in Nepal (Source: Ministry of Federal Affairs
and General Administration—MOFAGA, Nepal).
In addition, Nepal is one of the top ten fastest urbanizing countries in the world
with an urbanizing rate of 1.9 per annum. Nepal’s urban population grew from 13.9%
in 2001 to 17% in 2011 and has now reached to 58.4% in 2017. Several studies
indicate that the current pace of urbanization in Nepal will continue but the level
of urban growth is still at low level. Urbanization indirectly indicates economic
growth, but it also means intensive concentration of population exposed to disaster
and then high level of vulnerability. Nepal is a typical example of a country with
rapid urbanization coupled with low economic activity but with social development
barriers, which culminates to a high level of climate change vulnerability.
The government has taken more steps to advance disaster risk management and
improve climate resilience after 2015 earthquake. It enacted the new Disaster Risk
Reduction and Management (DRRM) Act in 2017, which promotes DRR focused
approach to resilience building. If properly enforced, it can ensure that disaster
C. L. Hada et al.
municipal development plan. This study will draw on past examples of RSLUP in
urban municipalities in Nepal. The unique needs of vulnerable population, including
socially excluded groups, will be included in RSLUPs, and activities that address
risk. The developed RSLUP framework will serve as a model for other municipalities
in Nepal, which is very relevant to the new federal system in the country.
Keywords Nepal · Risk sensitive land use planning · Disaster risk · Urban ·
Municipality · Restructuring
10.1 Introduction
10.1.1 Overview of Disaster Risk in Urban Municipalities
Nepal is vulnerable to multiple natural hazards—floods, landslides, fires, earthquakes, glacier lake outburst floods, and disease outbreaks. The 2015 Nepal earthquake and its aftershocks caused over US$ 7 billion in damages and losses and
killed nearly 9,000 people (Source Ministry of Home Affairs -MoHA, Nepal). The
capital city Kathmandu including other cities within Kathmandu valley is the world’s
most at-risk seismic urban area. The high urban density, haphazard planning, and
largely unimplemented building codes have compounded potential earthquake risk
in most urban areas. Nepal’s current population is estimated at 28.4 million, and
it is projected that by 2030 will be 33.3 million and by 2050 will be 36.4 million
(World Population Projections 2050). The total population was 26.5 million in 2011,
and only 17.1% of the total population lived in 58 municipalities. The Constitution of Nepal 2015 has declared the country a Federal Democratic Republic with
7 provinces, 77 districts, and 753 municipalities (6 metropolitan cities, 11 submetropolitan cities, 276 municipalities, and 450 rural municipalities). A total of
293 municipalities out of a total of 753 municipalities are classified as urban municipalities that contributes more than 60% in Nepal (Source: Ministry of Federal Affairs
and General Administration—MOFAGA, Nepal).
In addition, Nepal is one of the top ten fastest urbanizing countries in the world
with an urbanizing rate of 1.9 per annum. Nepal’s urban population grew from 13.9%
in 2001 to 17% in 2011 and has now reached to 58.4% in 2017. Several studies
indicate that the current pace of urbanization in Nepal will continue but the level
of urban growth is still at low level. Urbanization indirectly indicates economic
growth, but it also means intensive concentration of population exposed to disaster
and then high level of vulnerability. Nepal is a typical example of a country with
rapid urbanization coupled with low economic activity but with social development
barriers, which culminates to a high level of climate change vulnerability.
The government has taken more steps to advance disaster risk management and
improve climate resilience after 2015 earthquake. It enacted the new Disaster Risk
Reduction and Management (DRRM) Act in 2017, which promotes DRR focused
approach to resilience building. If properly enforced, it can ensure that disaster