10 Preparation and Adoption of Risk Sensitive Land Use Plans ...
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mentioned earlier. Overall three risk zones are identified, ranging from high-risk zone
(red zone) to low-risk zone (green zone). Different development control strategies
have been suggested to each zone.
The Gorkha earthquake in 2015 and the 2017 floods could have largely added
to the learning and lessons from the disaster but ongoing isolated planning process
related to fundamental development and resilience seems to indicate a completely
different picture. The necessity to integrate such planning process is an essential
aspect for the resilience urban development.
The impact of natural and man-made hazards can be reduced through adequate
planning and incorporating specific DRR measures in land use planning and urban
development processes, thus minimizing the human, economic, and environmental
damage. By increasing the resilience of communities, DRR also improves the ability
of people and infrastructure to recover from disasters. Land use planning can influence reduction of disaster risks through the development of strategic land use plan as
well as an assessment of development applications on the basis of the adopted plan.
The RSLUP is a disaster risk reduction tool that helps identify high-risk areas in
settlements, land use behaviors, zoning, land use functions, existing building regulation, and incorporate disaster risk management component in urban development
plans. RSLUP advocates appropriate planning to ensure reduced vulnerability to
the hazards associated with the disaster are taken into account. RSLUP is an integral component of DRR as it ensures locations for proposed development are safe,
reducing vulnerabilities to disasters caused by natural hazards. RSLUP is a mechanism that integrates factors related to informed Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR)
into land use planning. It is a planning document prepared by development agencies, which identifies the safest areas to prioritize immediate investments in urban
development and infrastructure projects. However, experience to date shows that
preparation of RSLUP under the auspices of different development organizations
and some by municipalities lack implementation due to various reasons. One such
reason could be attributed to the preparation of separate municipal plan (viz. periodic
plan or Integrated Urban Development) by the municipalities.
10.2 Methodology
The methodology comprises of reviewing past experiences in preparing the eight
RSULPs in Nepal along and drawing on global best practices. Similarly, an extensive
review and interpretation of policy documents related to planning to make the process
for different municipal plans with a special focus on disaster vulnerability reduction
provision were carried out. These include DRRM Act, 2017; Local Governance Operations Act, 2017; National Urban Policy, 2007; National DRR Policy, 2017; Land Use
Policy, 2015; National Urban Development Strategy 2017, Municipal periodic plan
making directives, National Strategic Action Plan for DRR: 2018–2030; National
Development Strategy 2017; Building Byelaws, 2006; Urban Planning & Development Act, Building Code for Nepal, 2017; Terms of Reference of Integrated Urban
179
mentioned earlier. Overall three risk zones are identified, ranging from high-risk zone
(red zone) to low-risk zone (green zone). Different development control strategies
have been suggested to each zone.
The Gorkha earthquake in 2015 and the 2017 floods could have largely added
to the learning and lessons from the disaster but ongoing isolated planning process
related to fundamental development and resilience seems to indicate a completely
different picture. The necessity to integrate such planning process is an essential
aspect for the resilience urban development.
The impact of natural and man-made hazards can be reduced through adequate
planning and incorporating specific DRR measures in land use planning and urban
development processes, thus minimizing the human, economic, and environmental
damage. By increasing the resilience of communities, DRR also improves the ability
of people and infrastructure to recover from disasters. Land use planning can influence reduction of disaster risks through the development of strategic land use plan as
well as an assessment of development applications on the basis of the adopted plan.
The RSLUP is a disaster risk reduction tool that helps identify high-risk areas in
settlements, land use behaviors, zoning, land use functions, existing building regulation, and incorporate disaster risk management component in urban development
plans. RSLUP advocates appropriate planning to ensure reduced vulnerability to
the hazards associated with the disaster are taken into account. RSLUP is an integral component of DRR as it ensures locations for proposed development are safe,
reducing vulnerabilities to disasters caused by natural hazards. RSLUP is a mechanism that integrates factors related to informed Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR)
into land use planning. It is a planning document prepared by development agencies, which identifies the safest areas to prioritize immediate investments in urban
development and infrastructure projects. However, experience to date shows that
preparation of RSLUP under the auspices of different development organizations
and some by municipalities lack implementation due to various reasons. One such
reason could be attributed to the preparation of separate municipal plan (viz. periodic
plan or Integrated Urban Development) by the municipalities.
10.2 Methodology
The methodology comprises of reviewing past experiences in preparing the eight
RSULPs in Nepal along and drawing on global best practices. Similarly, an extensive
review and interpretation of policy documents related to planning to make the process
for different municipal plans with a special focus on disaster vulnerability reduction
provision were carried out. These include DRRM Act, 2017; Local Governance Operations Act, 2017; National Urban Policy, 2007; National DRR Policy, 2017; Land Use
Policy, 2015; National Urban Development Strategy 2017, Municipal periodic plan
making directives, National Strategic Action Plan for DRR: 2018–2030; National
Development Strategy 2017; Building Byelaws, 2006; Urban Planning & Development Act, Building Code for Nepal, 2017; Terms of Reference of Integrated Urban