Quake-proof school building a source of inspiration in Hetauda

RAZEN MANANDHAR

Hetauda, July 12:

A small and ordinary-looking building at the Shramik High School in the Karra area has become an inspiration for disaster risk reduction initiatives in the fast-growing Hetauda

Municipality, where around 500 houses are built every year.

“After looking at the building we have come to believe that earthquake-resistance technology

is not complex,” said Sambhu Dhakal, a student at Shramik.

“Our parents should follow this model while building houses,” Dhakal said.

At Rs 6.5 lakh, the building cost only five per cent more than ordinary load-bearing houses, but it can resist an earthquake as strong as 6.5 on the Richter scale. The building was constructed on the initiative of the Community Based Management Group with the support of the United Nations Development Programme, the Hetauda District Development Committee, the Hetauda Municipality and the school management committee. The National Society for Earthquakes and Technology also provided technical help.

“The building itself may not be that important,” said Rajendra Karki, chairman of the CBMG Hetauda,

“but the message this symbolic building is giving is significant. It has been a source of inspiration for the whole city.” “As a demonstration project, we chose this school because the school has a vulnerable community building. Besides, it could spread good message all over the city through the new generation,” said Karki.

A civil engineer at the Hetauda Municipality, Satya Narayan Sah, said after construction of the school building, people started visiting the municipality with queries about the earthquake resistant technologies and begun a trend of constructing new buildings like it. “Most of new load-bearing houses have been built by adopting this technology,” he added.

According to Karki, disaster risk-reduction technologies are not expensive but people know little about them.

Most part of the country is seismically active, seismologists say, adding that major earthquake jolts Nepal every 70 years. The 8.4 earthquake of 1934 AD claimed 16,875 lives and destroyed 3,18,139 houses. Earthquakes in 1980 and 1988 AD killed around 178 and 721 people, respectively, beside damaging property and infrastructure.

Published: July 13, 2008 12:00 am On: Nepal

https://thehimalayantimes.com/nepal/quake-proof-school-building-a-source-of-inspiration-in-hetauda/

No historic documents found in palace

RAZEN MANANDHAR

Kathmandu, June 18:

An investigation panel formed to come up with details of royal property and unearth historic documents kept at the Narayanhiti Palace said it found none of such documents.

A member of the panel said the former king did not return historic documents in possession of the palace.

The Archives Preservation Act 1989 states that the government offices shall transfer official documents that are at least 25 years old to the National Archives.

The official documents include hand-written manuscripts, books, reports, financial statements, treaties and agreements, newspapers and magazines, letters, deeds, drawings, photos, maps, plans, charts, files and case files.

But neither the ministers nor other government officials raised questions on the possession of such documents. As a result, documents of national importance have been either taken away by the former king or have been destroyed.

The committee member said no such documents of historic importance were found in the palace. “We asked in writing about the existence of historic documents, but there was no response from the palace,” said the member.

He said the Nepali and foreign historians had made mention of Lal Baksa and other cases, which contained historical documents, but nothing was found. The panel member said a search should have been carried out right after the decision to depose the king.

The National Archives does not have copies of Nepal-India Sugauli Treaty, Nepal India Treaty of 1950 and other documents related with the changes of 1951, 1960 and 1990.

“We have plenty of religious, cultural and literary documents here, but do not have important documents related with great political changes,” said Bhim Prasad Nepal, chief of the National Archives.

Joint-secretary at the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation Jala Krishna Shrestha said no one is bothering to follow the Archives Preservation Act. “The present government will be held responsible if documents of historic importance are lost from the palace,” he said.

Panel misses deadline:

KATHMANDU: The committee formed to collect details of property at the palace failed to submit its report on Wednesday. “We could not submit report today due to technical reasons,” Dr Govinda Kusum, secretary at the Ministry of General Administration and convener of the committee, said. Kusum did not disclose anything about the property details at the palace. Source said the committee could not submit its report as it could not fix an appoint with PM Girija Prasad Koirala. HNS

Published: June 19, 2008 12:00 am On: Kathmandu

https://thehimalayantimes.com/kathmandu/no-historic-documents-found-in-palace/

Biodegradable waste a gold mine: Experts

RAZEN MANANDHAR

Call for waste utilisation

Kathmandu, June 6:

Environmentalists say Rs 22 million can be earned annually by managing biodegradable waste produced in the Kathmandu valley in an environmentally-friendly manner.

“If we follow the Clean Development Mechanism, we can earn up to Rs 22 million annually. On top of it, we can make extra bucks by selling manure,” says Bhusan Tuladhar, environmentalist and executive director of the Environment and Public Health Organisation.

CDM is a mechanism that makes developed countries responsible for generating greenhouse gases and pay developing countries that follow environment-friendly methods.

In the international carbon market, a tonne of ‘carbon credit’ can be sold at $7 to $15. The ENPHO has conducted a feasibility study with an aim to launch a CDM project in the capital by utilising capital’s biodegradable waste.

The Alternative Energy Promotion Centre has received Rs 33.2 million for installing 9,807 biogas plants across the nation for the period of 2004 to 2006.

“Through aerobic composting, we cut the emission of carbon. That means, we are saving the world from emission of 300 tonnes of carbon every day. We can sell our ‘carbon credits’ to developed countries,” he says.

According to Tuladhar, a biogas plant can be built in 100 to 200 ropani at a cost of Rs 10-

22 million.

Such a plant operates throughout the year and generates income. The plant can also generate around Rs 60 million per year through the sale of manure.

Though the process is lengthy and difficult, the AEPC has proved that selling of carbon is possible in Nepal.

Sandip Chamling Rai, climate change officer at the WWF Nepal, says the turning of a garbage plant into a carbon financing project is possible. “We can keep the city clean if sectors concerned are committed,” Rai says.

“The idea of launching a CDM project is a welcome step,” according to chief of the Environment Department at the Kathmandu Metropolitan City Rabin Man Shrestha.

Published: June 07, 2008 12:00 am On: Kathmandu

https://thehimalayantimes.com/kathmandu/biodegradable-waste-a-gold-mine-experts/

International museum day: Shah dynasty ghosts haunt museum development

RAZEN MANANDHAR

Kathmandu, May 18:

Government-run museums have been used as a tool to please and glorify the monarchs since the establishment of the first museum in 1938, which has resulted in state-sponsored negligence towards the contribution of other people in the national history, believe experts.

That is why the contribution of Juddha Sumshere Rana, who established the National Museum, has little room there.

“The museums in Nepal have been used to praise the kings, therefore, we could not be fair to all the aspects of history,” Jala Krishna Shrestha, the joint-secretary at the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation, who is also the president of Nepal chapter of International Council of Museums (ICOM), told this daily.

Prejudice and bias in establishment and management of museums hinder the efforts to develop international standard museums, he said adding that the museums were never considered priority area of the governments.

“The history of Lichhivi period is hardly portrayed in Nepali museums and the Malla period is depicted only as a period of art and culture but when it comes to Shah period all the kings are glorified as if they are messiahs and the Ranas are not given due space,” he said. The problem starts not only with one object on display but the policy makers have blocked the

whole vision of museum development.

He was of the view that the Hanumandhoka Durbar should showcase the political and cultural development in Nepal from pre-historic times to the present instead of dedicating them for the glorification of king Tribuwan, Mahendra and Birendra.

“In the changed political context, we can hope that the museums will be neutral to all political and cultural ups and downs of the country,” he said.

Bhim Prasad Nepal, chief of National Archives, former head of Patan Museum, said the bias of the policy makers towards one or another historic character has hindered development of museums in Nepal.

“You may consider Junga Bahadur Rana as a dictator, but you cannot deny his contribution to the country. But we have not been able to do justice to him in museums,” he said.

While the government has been indifferent to development of museums, ethnic communities

are working hard to portray their history and they are successful to some extent too.

Nepal’s history recorders

•National Museum of Nepal (Kathmandu)

•Museum of Natural History Nepal (Kathmandu)

•Tribhuvan Museum (Kathmandu)

•Patan Museum (Lalitpur)

•Bronze and Brass Museum (Bhaktapur)

•National Art Gallery Nepal (Bhaktapur)

•National Woodwork Museum (Bhaktpuar)

•Dhankuta Museum (Dhankuta)

•Hattisar Museum (Makwanpur)

•Mustang Eco Museum (Mustang)

•Tharu Cultural Museum (Bardiya)

Published: May 19, 2008 12:00 am On: Kathmandu

https://thehimalayantimes.com/kathmandu/international-museum-day-shah-dynasty-ghosts-haunt-museum-development/

KUKL to hand over 100 public taps to communities

RAZEN MANANDHAR

Kathmandu, February 15:

In a bid to encourage communities to be responsible for wise use of water supplied through public taps, the newly formed Kathmandu Upatyaka Khanepani Limited (KUKL) is all set to hand over the management of such taps to the user communities themselves.

The KUKL is at present launching a pilot project to repair and hand over the management of 100 of the 1,300 public taps to the communities, after which the user groups will be authorised to collect a nominal amount of money for use of the water.

Dr Divas Bahadur Basnyat, a consultant for Low-Income Consumers Support Unit (LICSU) of KUKL, told this daily today that 100 public taps will be converted into community taps in three months.

He said that the LICSU intends to mend as many taps as possible, but now is concentrating on 100 taps, mainly in the areas settled by squatters and other low-income groups, where they cannot afford to buy individual taps.

The process had already started as a project of Asian Development Bank funded unit which will be continued in the future. As per the initial programme, at least 15 public taps in the areas including Banshighat, Kholchapakha, Dhikuti, Basundhara, Dhalko, Chyasal and others have already been mended he said.

Mending of a tap costs Rs 60,000 to Rs 75,000, he said.

"The idea is to try and make consumers responsible for wise use of each drop of water. Once they become member of the consumers' group, they make wise use of water, which means helping provide water to others as well," he added.

The LICSU has also managed local community taps with storage tanks, so that they can collect water when the locals do not need and then supply to them when there is shortage of water.

Sumitra M Gurung, leader of the consulting and coordinating team for constructing community tap, from Lumanti Support Group for Shelter, said the LICSU promise is not feasible. "The LICSU has planned to charge nominal Rs 5 for 45 litres. It sounds good, but since it is not cost effective, it is not going to be sustainable," she said.

Lumanti is now helping fix locations for the 100 community taps and is also forming consumers' group for the taps.

Published: February 16, 2008 12:00 am On: Nepal

https://thehimalayantimes.com/nepal/kukl-to-hand-over-100-public-taps-to-communities/

Plan for Lumbini development soon

RAZEN MANANDHAR

Kathmandu, November 25:

Lumbini, the birthplace of Lord Buddha and one of the four World Heritage Sites of the country, is soon going to have a framework for future plans in the sacred archaeological site soon.

Since the site is now a centre of attraction for religious pilgrims, architectural students and tourism entrepreneurs, the United Nation's Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) is going to come up with a framework based on which all new master plans and other development works will be carried out.

"The drafting of the framework has begun. It is going to stop the government as well as other institutions from making unwanted changes in the site," said Kai Waise, the adviser for drafting the framework for the UNESCO Kathmandu Office.

The Integrated Management Plan (IMP) will define the significance, size and right of authorities concerned from different aspects, the UNESCO adviser further said. More than a single plan, it is a system, process or function of the area, which will be the supreme guideline for Lumbini, once it is endorsed by the cabinet, he said.

Though the focus of the framework is the patch of land measuring 1.92 square metre, in which Lord Buddha was born, the framework will also come up with recommendations for buffer zones and other surrounding development zones in this Integrated Management Plan, in line with recommendations made by the World Heritage Committee to prevent the total de-listing of the site from the World Heritage Site list. "We will also draw certain lines on how existing factories, the proposed construction of the international airport and dams in nearby rivers will or could affect the vulnerability of the site," Waise said.

The government must make sure that development works to be carried out around the site do not affect the site, Waise further said.He said that the plan itself is not a master plan, but a broad and long-term guideline that will govern drawing of new master plans and other initiatives for conservation or development of the the area.

"It is good to hear that Lumbini will have its IMP, finally," said Kosh Prasad Acharya, director-general of the Department of Archaeology (DoA) who was also involved in drafting of the project proposal.

He said that since the DoA is the nodal agency of all World Heritage Sites of Nepal, it is our responsibility to support the process of drafting it.

"Drafting of IMP was the requirement of the World Heritage Committee. And since the master plan of Kenji Tange was only a development plan, a separate plan was needed to draw strict lines for conservation of the sacred garden," Acharya further said.

Published: November 26, 2007 12:00 am On: Nepal

https://thehimalayantimes.com/nepal/plan-for-lumbini-development-soon/

Chlorine lacking in piped water in Valley: Survey

RAZEN MANANDHAR

Kathmandu, October 27:

Piped water distributed in many areas of Kathmandu Valley is lacking in chlorine, according to a survey to be released soon. Both high and low chlorine concentration are harmful for public health.

The Free Residual Chlorine Survey in piped water, conducted in the valley for the past three months, has shown that water in at least 17 out of selected 93 areas contains no chlorine at all, while there is low concentration of chlorine in piped water distributed in many other areas. A total of 120 volunteers from all five municipalities took 1,552 samples to prepare the report, to be published after Tihar.

“The report has shown that piped water distributed in the Valley is not at all suitable for drinking. It shows the poor condition of water and sanitation in our capital,” said Triratna Manandhar, a programme officer at the NGO Forum for Urban Water and Sanitation (NGOFUWS). The survey was conducted by NGOFUWS with supports from UN-HABITAT, as part of Cholera Mitigation Campaign 2007.

The problem of absence of chlorine in piped water has hit the small town of Kirtipur the hardest. Out of the seven points examined there, piped water distributed in four places — Dhusitole, Nagaun, Tyanglaphant, Khasibazar — had no chlorine at all.

In Kathmandu, 11 places out of 57 survey points showed that piped water distributed there is totally lacking in chlorine. The places where water is distributed without chlorine include Ombahal, Chapali, Hyoomata, Jaishideval, Dhokatol, Bauddha Phulbari, Goldhunga Balaju, Maruhiti, Thapathali, In addition, over 75 per cent of the tests in Maru, Jhochhen, Indrachowk, Guchhatole, Yatkhabahal, Milanchowk Kapan showed nil chlorine in those areas.

Out of 12 points in Bhaktapur, severe problem of chlorine deficiency was observed only in Katunje. Lalitpur is relatively less affected. Only in Sundhara, 80 per cent of tests resulted in nil chlorine.

On the contrary, chlorine concentration was found to be high in a number of areas. The areas with high chlorine in Kathmandu are Putalisadak Newplaza, Maharajgunj Chakrapath, Milanchowk Baneshwor and Jhwabahal. In Lalitpur, Nirmalbasti of Satdobato was found to be the only area where the concentration of chlorine was high.

Only nine spots of Kathmandu and two of Kirtipur are blessed with normal concentration of chlorine. The areas include Dhapasi Chauki, Old Baneshowr, Tankeshowr, Wotu, Dallu Awas, Chhetrapati Chowk, Bijeshwwri, Soaltimod and Pepsikola Koreshwor of Kathmandu and Kamalpokhari of Kirtipur. Generally, 0 to 0.2 milligramme of chlorine in one litre of water is considered less, 0.2 to 0.5 mg is considered normal and 0.5 to 1 mg is taken as high concentration. “The WHO has set that 0.2 to 0.5 mg of chlorine in a litre of water is standard. Less than it means that bacteria still live in the water and excessive chlorine in long term may cause cancer to the public,” said Rosha Raut, lab in-charge at the Nepal Environment and Public Health Organisation.

The study was conducted in 56 places in Kathmandu, 11 places in Lalitpur, 12 places in Bhaktapur, seven places in Kirtipur and three places in Thimi.

Published: October 27, 2007 12:00 am On: Kathmandu

https://thehimalayantimes.com/kathmandu/chlorine-lacking-in-piped-water-in-valley-survey/