Urban development : model is key!

By TNW correspondent

Nepal today needs clarity about the specific model of urban development. The point is considered important because the country has three different geographical settings marked by high altitude snowy area, hill, and the plain.

The current approach of adopting one model of urban development in all three can neither be considered appropriate nor sustainable from the viewpoint of resources.

Urbanization, experts assert, should be undertaken in a manner that guarantees sustainability in basic services particularly energy, education, health, transport, employment opportunities, market, heritage protection and other amenities to the residents.

The current trend of allowing settlements to expand with no specific plan for future has already created problems in urbanization particularly during the monsoon and winter. ”This should be checked,” say those who understand urbanization. But the authority concerned has not listened to the point.

Keeping in view the expanding population in urban areas and taking note of village people’s wish to move to urban areas for health, opportunity and education, the country should redefine urbanization and work out practical schemes for developing cities in different climatic situations in the country.

All 7 provinces and municipal level governments along with the federal government should be engaged in the process, emphasize experts. But the point has not been taken seriously by those who preside over urbanization.

The current 16th five year plan 2081-86 B.S., although conceived well and now in implementation-phase, has not taken urbanization seriously and addressed the problems the country is facing in the sector of urbanization, said a former planner in Kathmandu the other day.