Nepal's Urban Planning and Dvelopment

Nepal:

Urban planning and

development

Rajendra P Sharma

[email protected]

Lecture Series 4

BDevS, Center for Development Studies

National College for Higher Education, KU, Nepal

Nepal: Where are we ! Urban Poverty Situation

!!Out of 664,507 HH in the Municipalities of Nepal:

Temporary Houses : 101,005

House made up of mud : 225,932

Houses using Kerosene for Light : 107, 650

HHs do not have Flush Toilets : 312,318

HHs even have no toilet : 145,527

HHs using fire woods for cooking : 220,616

HHs using kerosene : 226,597

HHs using Bio Gas only : 181,410

HHs having traditional water source : 206,072

HHs having piped drinking water : 439,239

Population not having TV : 45%

Population neither have TV nor Radio : 24%

Source: CBS 2001

Nepal: Where are we ! Urban Poverty Situation

Among 664,507 Urban HHs in Nepal:

Temporary Shelter : 15%

Residing in Rented Houses : 35%

Disadvantaged Groups : 21%

No easy access to water/Quantity : 5 %

Have no proper/adequate fuel : 36%

Have no proper light : 16 %

Have no proper toilet : 22%

Among 3,227,879 Urban Population:

Illiterate (6 years or more aged) : 28%

Have no work (active population : 10 %

Death by poverty related diseases : 13 %

Population not having TV : 45%

Population neither have TV nor Radio : 24%

This is the reason to have focus on Municipal Periodic Plan

Sou

rce:

CB

S 2

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1

Defining urban area 1

Urban and Rural character

Economic activity and livelihood

Population Density and composition

Infrastructure and services; and resources

Market, institutions

Culture, civilization and innovation

Concentration of population: economic, social and political

implications (higher per capita productivity; Political process

and participation)

Resource consumption and pollution emission

Defining Urban Area 2

Acceptable basis: Density, occupational structure

Criteria used in Nepal

1952 census: prominent settlement, ≥5000 population

1961 census: Urban environment, ≥ 5000 population

Municipal Act 1962: Urban environment, ≥ 10,000 population

LSGA 1999: Metropolitan City (≥ 300,000; NPR 400 m revenue;

Urban facilities; already sub-metropolitan); Sub-metropolitan (≥

100,000; NPR 100 m revenue; Urban facilities; already

Municipality);, Municipality (Tarai ≥ 20,000; NPR 5 m revenue;

Urban facilities), Municipality (Hill ≥ 10,000; NPR 500,000

revenue; Urban facilities)

Municipal sizes

≥ 100,000 population:

1 metropolitan, 4 sub-metropolitan,

Over 39% population

20,000 to 100,000 population

45 municipalities, over 54%

population

10,000 to 20,000:

8 municipalities, over 4 % popn

Small towns: less than 10,000

popn

Hill/ mountains 550

Kathmandu Valley 10,265

Inner Tarai 402

Tarai 1,092

Urban total 985

Rural total 136

Urban density (person/ sq.km.) 2001

Sizes

Urban Feature, Indicator Highlights

Contribution to economy : urban economy growing @ 6.4 % annum, contribute about 60% of GDP.

Economic base: service and trade oriented, links with rural

Distribution: along E-W Highway, India Border, Kathmandu &

Central (19 places, 55% population)

Defined and undefined urban areas: 58 defined, 132 small

towns, 600 market centers.

Main Constraints

Lack of vision and coordination: no long-term perspective, linking

national development with urban development. No urban

development policy/ strategy.

Urban expansion

Sectoral policy/ plan and institution dominates urban development:

problems of coordination

LSGA: municipalities increased role for urban governance,

development and management: but lack capacity (HR, Financial)-

depends on central grants/ large proportion spent on administration

and salary

Service and Land management

National development policy

Donor driven development

Management of migration/displaced person

Waste and pollution Management

Maintaining Infrastructures, service & creating jobs

Devolution/Decentralization

High Rate of Urbanization - Increase in nos. of Municipalities

without basic infrastructures and services

Population growth in the municipalities

Allocation of Central Government fund to the cities is less as

compared to the contribution of the cities to GDP

Major urban challenges

Total 1,350 t/ day: Kathmandu 383 t/day

Per capita per day 0.34 kg (vary 0.11 to 0.93 kg)

Urban ConcernsSo

lid

wa

ste

Air

po

llu

tio

n

Emerging issue in major towns: vehicular/industrial emission, waste

burning, adulterated fuel.

Kathmandu Foggy days increased: 38 d/y (1970) to 60 d/ y (1994)

Indoor air pollution in smaller towns: (biomass fuel)

Health impacts: ARI, Pneumonia, Bronchitis, Asthma

Co

ng

est

ion

Urban roads: narrow, poor network function, lacks parking

Deficiency in planning and provision: Increase in vehicles not

matched by provision of roads and infrastructure

Mix traffic types, poor driving, bad parking, roadside trading

add to traffic congestion

Impact: travel time, air/noise, fuel consumption

27 June 2007

Decentralization Chronology

YEAR INITIATIVE REMARKS

1962 Constitution of Nepal Emphasis on decentralization of Panchayats

Creation of post of Chief District Officer (CDO)

1965 Local Administration Act Decentralization plan of three phases

Panchayat Development Land Tax (PDLT), Pilot scheme

1972 Local Development Department Creation of post of Panchayat Development Officer (PDO)

1974 District Administration Plan Provision for District Development Plan

1978 Integrated Panchayat Development

Design

Idea of "Service Centre" as focal point for local planning 1979, PDLT

withdrawn

1980 Establishment of Ministry of Local

Development (MLD) Conversion of PDO to LDO (Local Development Officer)

1981

Merger of Panchayat and Local

Development Ministries as MPLDIntegrated Rural Development Central Co-ordination Board

1982 Decentralization Act Districts to prepare periodic plans

1984 Decentralization Rules District, Village, Town Panchayats to prepare annual/periodic plans

1989 Supporting Decentralized Planning Project (SLDP)

1992 DDC, VDC and Municipality Act Increased responsibility for local development 1992

1992 DDC, VDC and Municipality Rules Decentralization Support Project (DSP)

1995, Participatory District Development Project (PDDP)

1996 Decentralization Co-ordination

Committee

1996, Local Governance Programme (LGP)

1999 Local Self-governance Act More on delegation than devolution

27 June 2007

Urban and Physical Planning in Nepal

Nepal undergone several political changes after Rana regime.

History of urban planning began with Third National Plan (1967-71)

In 1973, Town Plan Implementation Act (TPIA) was enacted

In 1982, a Decentralization Act to facilitate development processes

In 1988, the Town Development Act (TDA) was promulgated

In 1992, Municipal Act and Rules were defined

Till date, more than 33 municipalities prepared IAPs. But, IAPs failed

due to contradictory legal framework and weaknesses in terms of

institutional capacities at both central and local levels.

MPPW helps municipalities to develop periodic plans (3 to 5 years)

involvement of municipalities in planning has positive results

Municipal Distribution in Nepal

Framework: Municipal’s Decision Making

EVERY VOTER IN

THE CONSTITUENCY

SMALL LOCAL GROUP

POLLING BOOTH LEVEL

WARD COMMITTEE

WARD FOOTPRINT

WARD/COUNCILLOR WARD

CHAIRPERSON

MUNICIPALITY

MUNICIPAL AREA/ CITYLEVEL

TOLE SABHA REPRESENTATIVE

Water

Groups

Water

Supply

Schemes

Communit

y Police

Police

SWM

Compost

Groups

Solid

Waste

Mgmt

Self

Help

Groups

Urban

Poverty

Program

s

N’hood

Forums

Urban

Planning

Resident

Welfare

Associs’n

Road

Works Supervisio

n

Municipality

???????

Ward Councilors

Chairperson

“Why have so many different platforms?

Why not a single, permanent platform,

linked to the city’s decision-systems, which

can be available for all issues?”

Linkages: Municipality’s formal system

Central Government

(MLD and MPPW)

Urban Development Partners

(International and national)

NPC

Municipalities

LINKS AMONG THE URBAN STAKEHOLDERS

1 2 3 4 5857

Citizens

LEGEND

• established link

• Potential link

Future Direction

Clear Vision: How Urban Dev. links with National Dev. & rural dev.?

Urban development strategy: better criteria/definition for conferring

urban status, independent body certify area for urban status, improved

coordination, mandate & responsibility.

Strengthen urban governance : These are the key to sustainability -

decentralization, participation, Resource & Capacity Building.

Integrated, planned and holistic approach: (not only for urban

infrastructure provision, Urban development is broad, multi-sectoral).

Where we want to go?

And,

What should we do……….now?

Urban Planning and Development

?If we want better future

We should question, advocate,

plan and better implement those

plans and programs

PLANNING PROCESS

27 June 2007

What is Urban planning?

Urban planning is concerned with the ordering and design of

settlements, from the smallest towns to the world's largest cities.

Urban Planning - for improvement of urban centers to provide

healthy, safe living condition, efficient transport, communication,

adequate public facility, and aesthetic surroundings.

Urban planning is the discipline of land use planning which

explores several aspects of the infrastructures and social

environments of municipalities and communities. Other professions

deal in more detail with a smaller scale of development, namely

architecture, landscape architecture and urban design.

27 June 2007

Why urban planning ?

Urban planning, serve as a reference for all activities that

manages the promotion of urban citizens, that include:

Setting up infrastructures or collective equipment,

Granting land to private developers,

Facilitating activity set-up,

Obtaining building permits.

27 June 2007

History of Urban Planning

Many ancient cities were built from definite plans;

Greek Hippodamus (c.407 BC) considered father of city plan in West

Urban planning in organized way existed for less than a century;

John Nash planned some section of London; Vienna; Paris in 19th century

Since early 20th century, planning for cities has emphasized

Early 21st century, new urban theory and innovative planning concepts

developed.

27 June 2007

Urban development Concept and strategy

27 June 2007

City Strategic framework: Structure for

strategic agenda

27 June 2007

a 'sustainable' or ideal home city might look like

compact, efficient land use;

less automobile but better access;

efficient resource use, less pollution and

waste;

good housing and living environments;

a healthy social ecology;

sustainable economics;

community participation and preservation

of culture and wisdom.

Successful urban planning considers character, of "home"

27 June 2007

Planning Process

Urban planning procedure follows a cyclical process

Data collection, estimates, diagnostics,

Determination of stakes and objectives,

Definition and choice of strategy,

Drawing up of plans of action,

Promotion and implementation,

Assessment and check.

Actors and planning process

Traditional planning focused top-down: town planner creates plan

Over past decades, role of urban planner become democratic

Community workers now involved in planning at grassroots level.

The Contemporary city Planning process is highly complex:

step-by-step procedure, involve a series of survey/studies,

development of land-use plan and transportation plan,

preparation of a budget, and

approval of unified master plan by various agency or

legislative bodies.

27 June 2007

Information input in urban planning

Information input in urban planning is primarily of 2 types:

satellite and photogrammetric images,

tabular data garnered from censuses, studies.

Benefits provided by satellite images include the following:

global observations of land cover,

fast processing of data using automated classification and

techniques,

cost effectiveness in comparison with ground surveys and

digitization methods.

27 June 2007

Planning tools: data use

Physical maps

Activity maps

Facility maps

Local plan maps

Risk and pollution maps

Land use regulation map

Socio-economic maps: Demography, Sociology, Economy, Housing

The three Keys in Planning

The 3-steps process determining where you are now,

determining where you want to go, and then determining

how to get there?

These questions are the essence of success!

It can be start with the self evaluation on your:

Strengths,

Weaknesses,

Opportunities, and

Threats

SWOT Analysis

Key aspects of participatory planning

Participation: where we can generate:

Ideas - People deciding the factors governing them

Democratic institution - Participatory governance institutions

Democratic practice - the political participation

Key aspects of Participation

Formal structure decision-making

Permanent platform for participation

Inclusive platform for all citizens

Common system for various issues

For citizens: the opportunity and no excuse not to participate!

Key focus on urban planning

Urban Poverty

[Vicious Circle]

Low investment

Low income

Temporary job/ paid

not sufficient

Not rely on own

Production

Low Education Quality

High level of violence

Health & Hygiene

Need to pay for every

services (Health, Sanitation,

Education, Water)

Illegal SettlementBreak by external

involvement

Vision for Planning

Vision: a comprehensive vision at citizens’ level can create participation

Series: a series of campaign can create an ownership over the plan

The steps in the planning process

Govt.

InstitutionsStrategic planning

Workshop

Community

Participation

Strategic planning

committee

Strategic Plan

Central Government

NGOs, local self-help

group, Institutions, and

Intellectuals

Strategic planning

Workshop

Community

Participation

Strategic planning

committee

The City Government

Strategic Plan

As product

Outcomes from planning

Engaged citizens

A felt sense of purpose

Permanent involvement through legitimate platforms

Improved city management

Enhanced use of data

Regular sharing of information

Emergence of financially sustainable cities

Equitable outcomes

Infrastructure needs identified & prioritised by the people

Increased stakeholder ownership

Building partnerships with citizens-the permanent stakeholders

Develop an Municipal plan

“Impact Chain” for City Development

Level

Name of the Development Intervention:

Partner Organization:

Intermediary:

Target Group:

Impact

Direct

benefit

Indicators:

Utilisation

of outputs

Outputs

ActivitiesNo need for indicator, activities are implemented

Resources

The concluding remarks … …

In this rapidly urbanizing world,

the number of city dwellers are

increasing at a steep rate. So, is

increasing the discrepancies.

Therefore, Please let’s do

something for better plan of our cities

from our ends and send out thoughtful

messages for a safe and secure future,

wherever we are living!!

References