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Quake-prone city losing space for rescue
KATHMANDU, MAY 31 -
Diminishing open spaces in Kathmandu Valley due to haphazard urbanisation and failure to work on earthquake preparedness poses a serious threat to the lives of people here, experts say.
A study carried out in 2003 indicates Kathmandu lacks enough evacuation spaces in case of a disaster hitting the valley. No other research has been undertaken regarding availability of space ever since. “With 6,000 new houses built every year, open spaces are shrinking,” said Khadga Sen Oli of National Society for Earthquake Technology-Nepal (NSET).
NSET and UNICEF had studied the problem in Kathmandu, Bhaktapur and Lalitpur municipalities at that time under the project ‘Seismic Vulnerability Assessment of Kathmandu Valley Water Supply System’. It pointed out some of the areas that could be used for evacuation purposes: Balaju Bus Park, Chhauni Military Camp, Golf Course and Pashupati area, International Conference Centre, Trolley Bus Park, Khula Manch, Tundikhel, Ratna Park, Dasharath Stadium and Bhrikuti Mandap, among others, in Kathmandu. In Bhaktapur, the suggested spaces were Industrial area, Sallaghari open space, Sano Thimi Campus, Education Department premises and the Army camp. Pulchowk Campus, Khumaltar, Balkumari Ring Road, UN Park, Lagankhel Football Ground were also possible evacuation sites suggested in Lalitpur Sub-Metropolitan City (LMSC).
In 2007, NSET and UNICEF jointly conducted a follow-up and implementation project together with LSMC for pre-positioning of emergency water in identified spaces. Deep tube wells were assessed in all five areas and retrofitted together with provision of electricity generators for emergency. The areas are gradually being occupied by houses.
The international standard for open space for temporary settlement is 45 sq. m. per person, area estimated for a family in Nepal considering the lack of space and funds. Under compromised standards too, only half the potential number of people displaced during a major earthquake can be accommodated in these five evacuation sites. Others need to be sheltered outside the sub-metropolis.
In 2009, Kathmandu Metropolitan City Office (KMC), Earthquake and Megacities Initiative (EMI) and NSET conducted Risk Sensitive Land Use Plan that included zoning in order to minimise casualties in congested areas. The study proposed relocating market places from congested areas to spaces elsewhere. Three months ago, the KMC submitted the report to Kathmandu Valley Town Development Committee (KVTDC) under the Ministry of Physical Planning and Works (MoPPW).
“It’s a premature study carried out without our knowledge,” said Shambhu K.C., Member Secretary, KVTDC. “We have no funds to implement it since it focuses one municipality, excluding others.”
Kamal Raj Pandey, Joint Secretary at the MoPPW, said he had no idea about the study report. Bimal Rizal, chief of the Public Construction Department at the KMC, said the report was forwarded to the KVTDC as a model for studies in other municipalities and their subsequent implementation.
“We have been promoting the concept of systematic high-rise buildings to save space and to reduce the risk of demolition by an earthquake,” said Amrit Man Tuladhar, Programme Manager at Earthquake Risk Reduction and Recovery Preparedness.
An earthquake in Kathmandu (only a matter of time), experts believe, can be eight times more devastating than that in Haiti this January since the former lies on the site of a prehistoric lake filled with soft sediments and has poorly managed infrastructure.
Posted on: 2010-06-01 08:06
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