Banking News – With the risk of natural disasters such as floods, landslides, and earthquakes increasing, experts and government officials have urged integrating safe land use, organized settlement development, and disaster-resilient infrastructure into the mainstream of development. Speaking at a technical seminar held on the second day of the Ninth Nepal Land and Housing and Construction Expo-2083 underway at Bhrikutimandap, participating experts stated that rather than rehabilitating disaster-damaged settlements in the same risky locations, an integrated rehabilitation policy including housing, infrastructure, and livelihoods is necessary by identifying safe land areas.

In discussions on “Disaster Resilient Infrastructure and Sustainable Construction” and “Land Use Zoning, Safe Settlement Development, and Relocation Plan for Flood Victims,” they stated that along with natural hazards, unorganized roads, settlements, and infrastructure construction are further increasing risk.

Ganesh Prasad Bhatta, Under-Secretary at the Ministry of Land Management, Cooperatives, Federal Affairs and General Administration, stated that since the first impact of climate change falls on land, land management must be made the primary basis for climate adaptation.

“The first impact of climate change is on land. It devastates land and housing owned by people,” he said. “Therefore, land must be given first priority in climate change-related plans.” Bhatta stated that technical studies are necessary to identify which land areas affected by disasters are completely risky and which can be used after protection and rehabilitation. According to him, merely providing land and houses is not enough when relocating settlements to safe locations. Drinking water, roads, electricity, schools, health services, employment, open spaces, and economic activities must also be arranged simultaneously.

“Rehabilitation is not achieved merely by finding land; whether that location is geographically and geologically safe must also be examined,” he said. He stated that development construction should begin with land use plans. He noted that development without scientifically determining which areas are suitable for housing, agriculture, industry, or infrastructure could pose great risks in the future. According to Bhatta, although land use classification work has progressed in local levels, it has not yet been completed in all levels. According to him, 420 local levels have completed land use classification, while 170 local levels are in the final stages. 36 local levels have not yet started the work.

He informed that a strategy for relocation has been advanced by identifying safe locations through a high-level mechanism for the safe rehabilitation of families affected by floods and landslides. He stated that during relocation, access to education, health, and employment must be ensured along with land ownership for the displaced. Padma Kumar Mainali, Under-Secretary at the Ministry of Infrastructure Development and expert in human settlement planning, stated that Nepal is at high risk of multiple disasters including earthquakes, monsoon floods and landslides, and glacial lake outbursts.

He stated that although natural disasters cannot be completely prevented, human-created risks can be reduced. He noted that particularly unplanned road construction using bulldozers blocks natural water drainage, increasing the risk of landslides and debris flows. “We must improve where we ourselves can improve,” he said. “The unplanned construction process is further increasing risk.” Mainali stated that geography, natural water flow, and land sensitivity must be mandatorily considered during road construction. He stated that the tendency to cut land indiscriminately in the name of development puts both settlements and infrastructure at long-term risk.

He stated that although Nepal has a National Building Code, disaster risk reduction and management laws, and land use policies, implementation remains weak. He noted that policy implementation is not possible without effective monitoring and capacity enhancement of local levels. He proposed making multi-hazard risk assessment mandatory before approving detailed project reports of large infrastructure. He suggested linking disaster risk maps with local level building approval systems to control construction permits in risky areas. Mainali stated that bio-engineering and other natural measures, along with gabion structures and deep-rooted vegetation, should be used for landslide control. He also emphasized adopting earthquake-resistant structures, energy-efficient buildings, and low-carbon construction technologies.

He stated that the “Build Back Better” concept of constructing safer and stronger structures rather than returning to the same condition after a disaster should be implemented. Dr. Gokul Prasad Burlakoti, facilitator of the seminar and senior legal advisor of the Federation, stated that the recent disaster in the Rasuwa-Nuwakot area has further highlighted the need for safe settlements and climate justice in Nepal. Noting that Nepal contributes minimally to global carbon emissions but suffers the impacts of climate change, he stated that safe housing and land ownership must be ensured for communities displaced by disasters.

At the seminar, Bishnu Prasad Ghimire, President of the Nepal Land and Housing Development Federation, stated that the government must provide necessary facilitation in land ceiling provisions. In the session chaired by Federation President Ghimire, discussions were held on developing integrated infrastructure including drinking water, electricity, roads, schools, health services, and livelihoods along with housing when relocating disaster-affected settlements. Participants emphasized making safe land use, management of risky settlements, and environment-friendly infrastructure an integral part of future development policy.