Kathmandu Valley Environment OutlookKathmandu Valley Environment OutlookPolicy Impacts

Resulting from the Application of UNEP/IEA Methodology

Rabin Man Shrestha, Chief

Environment Management DepartmentKathmandu Metropolitan City Office, Nepal

Kathmandu Valley Environment Outlook (KVEO) ) Report Report

(OECD’s Driver-Pressure-State-Impact-Response (DPSIR) Framework) )

An excellent piece of work containing a detailed account of

The Status of Kathmandu Valley Environment.

Special FeatureIdentification of Emerging Environmental Problems

PlusSpecific Recommendations for Future Action

Presentation SummaryPresentation Summary

Introduction DPSIR Framework KTM Valley Environment

Drivers Pressure State Impact Response

DPSIR FrameworkDPSIR Framework Driver

Fundamental processes in society that drive activities having direct impact on environment

Pressure Human activities or social & economic sectors

State Environmental state & trends

Impact Effect on human well being (economic, social &

environmental) Response

Interventions on drivers, pressures or impacts to manage state

DPSIR Framework DPSIR Framework & &

KTM Valley’s EnvironmentKTM Valley’s Environment

Government & Projects

Rapidly Deteriorating Environment

Health Effects Economic Disparity

Private Sector Civil Society/NGOs

Kathmandu Centric Development

Political Instability Weak Institutions

Increased Pollulting Substances

Rapid Urbanization Haphazard GrowthMultidimensional

Life Activities

D

P

S

I

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Kathmandu ValleyKathmandu Valleyat a Glanceat a Glance

Kathmandu Valley( 3 districts)

(Kathmandu, Lalitpur, Bhaktapur)Area : 899 sq. kmPopulation: 1,647,092 (2001)Population growth: urban : 5.22 %, rural: 2.50 %Road length : 1,331 kmDrinking water facilities: 74.67 %Literacy rate: male: 82.87% female: 62.23 %

National plus International CentreServices and Activities

Socio-economic, cultural, political educational, administrative,

financial, industrial, transportation, health, tourism, sports etc.

Key Environmental Issues Identified Key Environmental Issues Identified by by

KVEOKVEO Air quality and traffic management Air quality and traffic management Settlement PatternSettlement Pattern Drinking water resourcesDrinking water resources Waste managementWaste management Natural Disaster PreparednessNatural Disaster Preparedness

Air Quality and Traffic ManagementAir Quality and Traffic Management Drivers:

Kathmandu- centric development, Weak institutional capacity, Increasing affluence and Modernization

Pressure: Urbanization, Haphazard growth, Unplanned settlement, Vehicular emissions, Increase in number of vehicles, Industrial emissions

State: High level of suspended particulate matter, Gaseous pollutants, Toxic pollutants

Impact: Health, Tourism, Socio-Economic Condition

Response: Ban on diesel three wheelers and Polluting moving chimney Bulls trench kilns, Establishment of vehicular emissions standards and national ambient air quality standard

Settlement Pattern Driver:

Exceptionally scenic beauty, Pleasant climate, Socially and culturally docile people, Better amenities, Infrastructures and institutions of all kinds, Better job opportunities, Improved transport and communication, Comparatively low density of population, Room for further growth of population

Pressure: Change in the settlement pattern, Expansion of industry, Service sectors, Extension of city due to economic and political activities

State:Unprecedented land subdivision and building construction

Impact: River pollution, Air pollution, Solid waste management, Decrease in Agricultural land, Traffic congestion, Deterioration of cultural heritage

Response: Planning initiatives, Investments, Institutional set-up, Legal and policy framework, Construction of outer ring road

Drinking Water ResourcesDrinking Water Resources Driver:

Urban population growth, Tourism, Agricultural and Infrastructural development

Pressure: Water quality, Increase in use of agro-chemicals, Change in land-use pattern

State: Surface and ground Water, public and private supply system and household drawing of underground water, inadequate supply

Impact: Water ecology, Wetlands, Public health

Response: Water resources acts, Legislations, Collaboration with different organization, commitments to various conventions, treaties, Agreements related to water and sanitation, and ecology

Waste ManagementWaste Management Drivers:

Centralization and Rapid urban growth Pressure:

Rapid urban growth, Unplanned and haphazard urban expansion, Change in consumption pattern and living standard, Commerce, Business, Industry and Service sectors

State: 434.9 tons a day in the valley

Impact: Health, Air, Water and River pollution

Response: Formulation of rules, Regulation, Plans, Programmes and projects – Clean Kathmandu Valley Study

Natural Disaster PreparednessNatural Disaster Preparedness Drivers:

Destructive earthquake resulting from its location in the seismic zone, Centralized development of Kathmandu valley with high population growth, Landslides resulting from geo-morpho-physical and human intervention

Pressure:Encroachment of river corridors and open land, haphazard construction of buildings and sky-scrappers

State:Most buildings, bridges and other constructions are old and vulnerable to earthquake even of moderate size, Inadequate Hospital and Fire-brigade services, very poor earthquake monitory system

Impact :Huge loss of life and property, Environmental imbalance, Damage to important infra-structures ( roads, dams, sewerage system, bridges, disruption of socio-economic condition).

Response:Involvement of many government agencies, municipalities, media, Initiative from NGO’s, legal provision Lack of education, planning, political instability

PROBLEMS AND POLICY PROBLEMS AND POLICY KVEO KVEO

RECOMMENDATIONS RECOMMENDATIONS

KVEO RECOMMENDATIONS FOR POLICY AND ACTIONin

A NUTSHELL

Improved planning and zoning Land pooling Better solid waste management Rainwater harvesting Infrastructure and technical measures Improved coordination and enforcement Community mobilization

Direct options for management by various levels of Direct options for management by various levels of government, civil society, the public-private sector government, civil society, the public-private sector

and resident that includeand resident that include

Review of of

GEO/IEA TRAINING MANUAL APPLICATION

Yearly publication of SOE by MOEST/ Nepal Allocation of yearly budget (government and municipalities) Environmental sustainability program – on going

(ICIMOD) Environmental awareness programs for newly

elected constituent assembly members

Environmental ActivitiesEnvironmental Activities

Some Pertinent Institutional ProblemsSome Pertinent Institutional Problems Municipalities, as well as central government, have very

limited resources (human & financial) to manage urban growth and environment

Proper planning & monitoring is rarely done

Division of responsibility not clear & coordination is weak

Weak enforcement mechanism

Poor traffic management Unplanned settlements with inadequate facilities for

transport

Environment: a less priority issue issue

Last Year Specific Problems Last Year Specific Problems

Volatile political environment Lack of peaceful environment Unstable government Manpower deficiency Migration of qualified personnels

KVEO REPORT High demand but unavailable to general public

Need of revised edition plus vernacular version

Time to time discussion and meeting with stakeholders like

municipalities, experts, organizations and others

Use it for Environment Advocacy Movement

Facilitate policy and decision makers in order to make them

able to address the environmental issues at priority level

Use it for a sustainable development of the valley

A Ray of Hope A Ray of Hope

Newly Elected Constituent Assembly and its Members

The Dawn of a New Nepal with New Government with Strong Political Will and New Commitments

Strong Support and Firm Commitment for Cooperation from International Community

New Political Structure::Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal with full participation of all sections of the Nepalese People..