Nepal:
Urban planning and
development
Rajendra P Sharma
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
00
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