1. 2 NORWEGIAN UNIVERSITY OF LIFE SCIENCES www.umb.no 2 THT282 - CASE C6, Earthquake Disaster Preparedness in Kathmandu Photo: Ronny Hansen C6: Earthquake Disaster Preparedness in Kathmandu Source: JICA Quaterly news letter 2011, Vol 61, Kathmandu Crowded urban areas are vulnerable to earthquake in Kathmandu

2. 2 NORWEGIAN UNIVERSITY OF LIFE SCIENCES www.umb.no 2 THT282 - CASE C6, Earthquake Disaster Preparedness in Kathmandu Photo: Ronny Hansen C6: Earthquake Disaster Preparedness in Kathmandu As per the earthquake hazard zone mapping, Kathmandu Valley lies in Zone 5 (nset.org.np). The Zone 5 covers the areas with the highest risks to suffer earthquakes of intensity of 6 or more in Richter scale. Kathmandu valley has been hit several times by earthquakes, the most notable ones in terms of the magnitude and destruction were in 1810, 1823 and 1833, 1834, 1934 and 1997 (source: nset.org.np). The destruction caused by 1934 earthquake in the valley is the highest for any recorded earthquake in the history of Nepal. A total of 126355 houses were severely damaged and around 80893 buildings were completely destroyed and 8519 people lost their lives. Experts say that mega-quake is imminent in the Valley. The damage will be much higher now, if Kathmandu valley is hit by earthquake. The most vulnerable infrastructures (particularly in urban areas) to earthquake and floods are power supply, water supply and sanitation. Kathmandu valley already has serious environmental problems associated with water and sanitation. Because of the rapid growth of population in the valley, the existing water supply sources (both surface and ground water) cannot meet the daily demand. The daily water supply is 30% less than the daily water demand. The ground water extraction is more than the recharge. In many places the shallow ground water reservoir has almost dried. The traditional wastewater treatment system has been and still is in many places a septic tank- soak pit system. Most of the septic tanks has now been removed and wastewater from the houses is either discharged into nearby storm sewer or to haphazardly constructed sanitary sewers. Most of the wastewater (about 70%) is discharged untreated into the valley river system. The valley river system is like an open sewer. If an earthquake hits Kathmandu now the post disaster water and sanitary condition will be horrible. Unfortunately the earthquake disaster preparedness programs launched by GO and NGO are more focused on earthquake resistance building infrastructures and teaching survival techniques during earthquakes. Very little focus is given on earthquake preparedness from water and sanitation point of view.nset.org.np

3. 2 NORWEGIAN UNIVERSITY OF LIFE SCIENCES www.umb.no 2 THT282 - CASE C6, Earthquake Disaster Preparedness in Kathmandu Photo: Ronny Hansen C6: Earthquake Disaster Preparedness in Kathmandu Task There are needs to make an extra effort to improve the present situation of water and sanitation in Urban and peri-urban Kathmandu from earthquake disaster preparedness point of view. Therefore (from water and sanitation perspective): 1. What earthquake preparedness activities would you suggest for Kathmandu valley? 2. Also, the disaster management system in Nepal is in the process of formulation. What strategies would you recommend for pre and post disaster management system? 3. The general public does not have enough awareness or knowledge of the importance of preparedness or mitigation of water and sanitation? What would you do to increase the awareness of the general public?