Stakeholders worry over dismally lower proportion of open space in urban areas

Kathmandu, Dec 2: Stakeholders have expressed worry over what they called dismally less open areas in the major cities of the country. They have stressed on the protection of open spaces in densely populated cities like Kathmandu. 

Experts and officials participating in an interaction organized by the Sancharika Samuha in the capital on Monday stated that the lack of open spaces is becoming a serious challenge for the safety of the general public during natural disasters.

Speakers at the programme expressed the view that, as Nepal is located in a seismically sensitive zone, the federal, provincial and local governments should prioritise the management of open spaces in their policies.

Journalist Mukesh Pokharel, who has been studying the environment and urban development, said although the total area of the Kathmandu Valley is about 721 square kilometres, the proportion of open spaces is extremely low.

According to the data of the Kathmandu Valley Development Authority (KVDA), currently only 0.51 percent of space in the federal capital is open whereas 40 to 50 percent of the area should be open.

Dinesh Gurung, an expert in the field of climate and livelihoods, stated that although there has been discussion about the importance of open spaces, its institutionalization is proving difficult. Although there is a Disaster Management Act, he commented that its effective implementation has been challenging.

Other participants in the programme suggested that local representatives should be more responsible as encroachment on public land is increasing and government supervision over the protection of open spaces is weak. (RSS)