10 Preparation and Adoption of Risk Sensitive Land Use Plans ...
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• Participation of stakeholders and concerned in collaborative decision-making; and
• Capacity building and mainstreaming.
The need for preparedness plan, program, and projects to reduce the loss of lives and
properties has already been realized and acted upon. There has been an attempt to
make different disaster-resilient plans, among which, RSLUP technique is one to help
municipal governments in reducing risk. RSLUP has been prepared for Kathmandu
Metropolitan City in 2010; RSLUP only for earthquake risks in five municipalities
were prepared in 2009; Multi-Hazard RSLUP of Kathmandu Valley (three districts
and 22 municipalities) in 2015; Chautara Municipality in 2016; and Changunarayan
Municipality in 2017. All RSLUPs were prepared to take the existing conditions
to contribute to increased vulnerability of communities, compounding the possible
disruption of various functions and destruction of physical assets.
Nepal’s historic settlements both within Kathmandu valley and outside resembled
elements of planning and sensitivity to disaster risk. Sankhu, for example, is one of
the oldest settlements in the Kathmandu Valley, established by the Licchavi Kings.
The oldest inscription found in Sankhu is dated 538 AD. Like any other ancient town
in the Kathmandu Valley, Sankhu is a compact settlement away from the flood plains
of Saalinadi. Aside from the historic necessity for defense and the need for proximity
to cultivated farmlands, the compact form of vertically oriented living in Sankhu—
or any Newar town for that matter is strongly motivated by concerns to preserve
rich farmlands and minimize their use for residential purposes. Similar trend can
be observed in Bungamati, Khokana, Lubhu, Kathmandu, Patan, and Kirtipur where
settlements have been planned considering risk factors. It is only during recent years,
urban settlement has seen a rampant growth and in most cases devoid any planning
including for disaster risk. Only seven towns and Kathmandu Valley has experienced
the preparation of RSLUPs in Nepal. The following sections provide a summary of
RSLUPs prepared.
10.4 RSLUP for Kathmandu Valley
10.4.1 2002 Seismic Risk Assessment in Kathmandu Valley
GIZ, EMI, Kathmandu Valley, 2010
The GoN carried out the study on Earthquake Disaster Mitigation in the Kathmandu
Valley in 2002 with the support from JICA. The Kathmandu Risk Sensitive Land
Use Planning, 2010 is one of two pilot applications of mainstreaming disaster risk
reduction in megacities project. It aims to mainstream disaster risk reduction in
the development strategies and legislation of Kathmandu Metropolitan City (KMC)
through the development of a risk-sensitive land use plan, advocacy campaigns,
policy formulation, interinstitutional coordination and strengthening of local institutions. It fully integrates disaster risk reduction within its spatial and physical
181
• Participation of stakeholders and concerned in collaborative decision-making; and
• Capacity building and mainstreaming.
The need for preparedness plan, program, and projects to reduce the loss of lives and
properties has already been realized and acted upon. There has been an attempt to
make different disaster-resilient plans, among which, RSLUP technique is one to help
municipal governments in reducing risk. RSLUP has been prepared for Kathmandu
Metropolitan City in 2010; RSLUP only for earthquake risks in five municipalities
were prepared in 2009; Multi-Hazard RSLUP of Kathmandu Valley (three districts
and 22 municipalities) in 2015; Chautara Municipality in 2016; and Changunarayan
Municipality in 2017. All RSLUPs were prepared to take the existing conditions
to contribute to increased vulnerability of communities, compounding the possible
disruption of various functions and destruction of physical assets.
Nepal’s historic settlements both within Kathmandu valley and outside resembled
elements of planning and sensitivity to disaster risk. Sankhu, for example, is one of
the oldest settlements in the Kathmandu Valley, established by the Licchavi Kings.
The oldest inscription found in Sankhu is dated 538 AD. Like any other ancient town
in the Kathmandu Valley, Sankhu is a compact settlement away from the flood plains
of Saalinadi. Aside from the historic necessity for defense and the need for proximity
to cultivated farmlands, the compact form of vertically oriented living in Sankhu—
or any Newar town for that matter is strongly motivated by concerns to preserve
rich farmlands and minimize their use for residential purposes. Similar trend can
be observed in Bungamati, Khokana, Lubhu, Kathmandu, Patan, and Kirtipur where
settlements have been planned considering risk factors. It is only during recent years,
urban settlement has seen a rampant growth and in most cases devoid any planning
including for disaster risk. Only seven towns and Kathmandu Valley has experienced
the preparation of RSLUPs in Nepal. The following sections provide a summary of
RSLUPs prepared.
10.4 RSLUP for Kathmandu Valley
10.4.1 2002 Seismic Risk Assessment in Kathmandu Valley
GIZ, EMI, Kathmandu Valley, 2010
The GoN carried out the study on Earthquake Disaster Mitigation in the Kathmandu
Valley in 2002 with the support from JICA. The Kathmandu Risk Sensitive Land
Use Planning, 2010 is one of two pilot applications of mainstreaming disaster risk
reduction in megacities project. It aims to mainstream disaster risk reduction in
the development strategies and legislation of Kathmandu Metropolitan City (KMC)
through the development of a risk-sensitive land use plan, advocacy campaigns,
policy formulation, interinstitutional coordination and strengthening of local institutions. It fully integrates disaster risk reduction within its spatial and physical