Governance and Infrastructure Development Challenges in the Kathmandu Valley

Transcription

1 Governance and Infrastructure Development Challenges in the Kathmandu Valley Final Workshop Report February 2009 Kathmandu, Nepal Sponsored by the East-West Center's Urban Dialogue and Kathmandu Metropolitan City Government

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3 Table of Contents Executive Summary 1 Map 4 Aims and Objectives 5 Report 6 Action Plan 9 Agenda 10 Biographies 13 Participant List 16 Appendixes Kathmandu Valley Profile Metropolitan Governance in India: An Overview of Selected Cities Governance and Planning in Metro Manila Metro Manila: A Case Study in Planning and Governance Partnership for Urban Waste Management Expert Presentation Questions and Answers Complete Workshop Group Memory Newspaper Articles

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5 Executive Summary At the invitation of the Kathmandu Metropolitan City, the East-West Center co-sponsored the workshop Governance and Infrastructure Development Challenges in Kathmandu Valley and took place February 2009 in Kathmandu, Nepal. The workshop was organized to examine current urban development planning and land use policy issues in rapidly growing Kathmandu Valley. After a series of consultations among the officials of the Kathmandu Metropolitan City, national government and urban planners, two specific aims were developed for the workshop: i. To investigate the efficacy of establishing a Kathmandu Valley Authority with clear and comprehensive planning and land use policy mandates ii. To develop an action plan to establish a regional planning mechanism that incorporates greater decision making autonomy to Kathmandu Metropolitan City and other local governments in Kathmandu Valley Workshop participants included the Chief Executive Officers (Mayors) of Kathmandu Metropolitan City, Lalitpur Sub-Metropolitan City, Bhaktapur Municipality, Kirtipur Municipality, and Thimi Municipality; high-level leaders and representatives from key National Government departments; and education, private sector, international and local NGOs; local urban planning experts; and international aid agencies such as the United States Agency for International Development, GTZ (Germany), Asia Development Bank, Japan International Cooperation Agency, World Bank, and the European Union. There were 50 participants in total with attendance by invitation only The East West Center sponsored three urban planning experts who provided consultation with the participants over the three-day workshop. The experts discussed various frameworks for regional development authorities, presented case studies of regional development authority models, and efficient waste management practices. The following experts presented case studies: Mr. K.C. Sivaramakrishnan, Chairman, Centre for Policy Research, and Senior Fellow, Institute of Social Sciences, New Delhi, India; Former Secretary to Government of India, Ministry of Urban Development; and Former Chief Executive of the Calcutta Metropolitan Development Authority, India Mr. Nathaniel von Einsiedel, Chairman/CEO, CONCEP, Inc., and President, The Urban Partnerships Foundation, Makati City, Philippines; Former Regional Coordinator for Asia- Pacific, UN Urban Management Programme; and former Commissioner for Planning, Metropolitan Manila Commission, Philippines Mr. Badan Lal Nyachhyon, Director, MULTI Disciplinary Consultants (P), Ltd, Nepal The participants examined the case studies presented on regional planning authority models from India, the Philippines, Kathmandu Metropolitan City and their applicability to Kathmandu Valley. Throughout the 3-day workshop, participants identified and analyzed core problems facing urban development in Kathmandu Valley and agreed upon core objectives and actions needed to tackle the 1

6 problems through a Problem Tree Analysis exercise. They reviewed existing national and local government relationships with key infrastructure services in the valley including transportation, water, sewer, transportation, housing, and energy, and identified the lack of a regional coordination mechanism as a major constraint. It was evident from the problem tree analysis that the root causes of the problem of infrastructure failure was related to better planning, management and coordination between different level of government and line agencies. Finally, they prepared a time-bound action plan that includes next steps and recommendations for creating a regional planning mechanism. This action plan recommended the establishment of a regional planning authority for better more efficient planning, management, and coordination among various actors within the Kathmandu Valley. About the Partners East-West Center The Governance and Infrastructure Development Challenges in Kathmandu Valley Workshop was an outcome of the Asia-Pacific-U.S. Urban Dialogue program. Since 2008, the East-West Center has been bringing together small groups of mayors and other high-level government leaders, urban planning practitioners, civil society and private sector representatives, and urbanization scholars from the United States, Asia, and elsewhere to examine and reflect on current trends, implications, policy options, and strategic visions for managing urban growth. The Center s Urban Dialogue program facilitates a variety of peer-to-peer learning exchanges through informal, roundtable dialogues, workshops and forums, using a knowledge-based approach that integrates experience and data. The East-West Center was established by the U.S. Congress in 1960 to promote better relations and understanding between the United States and the nations of Asia and the Pacific region. For 50 years, the Center has served as a vigorous hub for cooperative research, education, and dialogue on critical issues of common concern. It provides a meeting ground where people with a wide range of perspectives exchange views and experiences for the purpose of strengthening policy options. The East-West Center s 21-acre Hawai i campus is strategically located midway between Asia and the U.S. mainland. It features research and residential facilities and an international conference center. Kathmandu Metropolitan City Government Kathmandu is the metropolitan city centre of the surrounding Kathmandu District. The city of Kathmandu forms this district with some 57 Village Development Committees. According to 2001 census, there are 235,387 households in the metropolitan city. The city is divided into five sectors namely the Central Sector, the East Sector, the North Sector, the City Core and the West Sector. For civic administration, the city is further divided into 35 administrative wards. The Council administers the Metropolitan area of Kathmandu city through its 177 elected representatives and 20 nominated members. It holds biannual meetings to review, process, approve the annual budget and make major policy decisions. The ward profile documents for the 35 wards prepared by the Kathmandu Metropolitan Council is exhaustive and provides information for each ward on population, the structure and condition of the houses, the type of roads, educational, health and financial institutions, entertainment facilities, parking space, security provisions and so forth. It also includes lists of development projects completed, on-going and planned, along with informative data about the cultural heritage, festivals, historical sites and the local inhabitants. Kathmandu Metropolitan City Department of Physical Development and Construction The Department of Physical Development and Construction is mainly responsible for promoting the city s physical development plan and program including implementation of urban infrastructure projects including roads, drainage, parks and greenery, housing, and conservation of historic and heritage sites 2

7 within Kathmandu Metropolis in accordance with the Local Self Governance ACT. The department is also responsible for the promotion, implementation, and coordination of development projects in the Kathmandu Metropolis with support from international funding agencies and cities. 3

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9 Workshop Aims and Objectives 1. To investigate the efficacy of establishing a Kathmandu Valley Authority with clear and comprehensive planning and land use policy mandates. 2. To develop an action plan to establish a regional planning mechanism that incorporates greater decision-making autonomy for Kathmandu Metropolitan City and other local governments in Kathmandu Valley. Over the course of the 3-day workshop, participants will engage in large and small group discussions and interactive exercises led by a professional trainer/facilitator. These sessions will be strategically designed to encourage, team work, creative problem solving, and consensus building around the issues that will be addressed during the workshop skills critical to ensuring a successful outcome that all participants can support. Workshop participants will: Identify, discuss, and analyze urban development and governance issues and their causal relationships-- including problems, strengths, and opportunities-- currently faced by Kathmandu Metropolitan City and the other local municipalities in the valley. Review existing national and local government relationships governing the provision of infrastructure and services in the valley such as housing, waste management, and transportation. Examine and discuss regional planning authority models- including structure, operation, and applicability to Kathmandu Valley- through case study presentations by outside experts. Prepare a time-bound action plan that includes next steps to addressing identified issues within a regional planning framework, including recommendations on: - Establishing new and/or expanded roles and responsibilities for Kathmandu Metropolitan City and local governments in Kathmandu Valley. - How local governments can work collaboratively to plan and execute development activities, including human and financial resource management arrangements. - How best to involve civil society organizations in the formulation and implementation of regional planning and development policies. - How best to coordinate support of international donors and other organizations in national and local government efforts to create a regional planning mechanism 5

10 Report Background The workshop on Governance and Infrastructure Development Challenges in Kathmandu Valley was a direct result of Kathmandu Metropolitan City s (KMC) participation in the East-West Center s 2008 inaugural URBAN ASIA seminar in Honolulu, Hawaii, USA. Through the URBAN ASIA seminar series, the East-West Center hopes to strengthen regional cooperation by promoting best practices, interdisciplinary and multi-country dialogues, and collaboration among regional institutions, intergovernmental bodies and non-government research networks. The inaugural URBAN ASIA seminar focused on metropolitan governance challenges. Through discussions with colleagues and peers from cities across the U.S. and Asia, the Kathmandu Mayor and the Director of City Planning expressed their interest in continuing to explore these issues with their local counterparts in Nepal, specifically the leaders and planning officials of the municipalities in Kathmandu Valley. They also wanted to bring in the views of local city planning experts, ngos, and academic researchers. The Kathmandu Metropolitan City officials suggested collaboration with the East-West Center to help them identify appropriate metropolitan governance experts who could present case studies on establishment and operation of metropolitan regional authorities. They also asked the East-West Center if it would be possible to assist in facilitating discussion and agreement around problem identification related to metropolitan governance issues in the Kathmandu Valley and the development of an action plan to move forward Problem Identification The workshop began with all participants engaging in a facilitated brainstorming process on metropolitan governance models. This process led to several agreed-upon problem statements. The group recognized that some of the items identified might be causes or effects of some of the larger challenges currently faced by the municipalities of Kathmandu Valley. Through a prioritization process, the participants concluded that infrastructure failure was a major problem, and after more discussion identified the Failure of Infrastructure in Kathmandu Valley as the main challenge that needed to be addressed. Using a problem tree analysis approach, the group then identified Root Causes (RC) with Sub-Root Causes (SRC) and Main Effects (ME) and Secondary Effects (SE) around the chosen problem. For the selected problem of Failure of Infrastructure in Kathmandu Valley, causes were categorized under six roots: management; education; coordination; economics; planning; and, manpower. The effects of the problem were identified under four major effects: social; health and environment; development; and, economics. It was evident from the problem tree analysis that the root causes of the problem of infrastructure failure was related to better planning, management and coordination between different level of government and line agencies. By extension, other problems within the Kathmandu Valley also are related with the three identified major roots. Regional Development Approaches and Case Studies of Development Authority Models The second day of the workshop was devoted to providing participants with an understanding of regional development models and illustrated case studies of regional planning authorities in India and the Philippines. Invited experts Mr. Sivaramakrishnan and Dr. Von Einsidel gave brief presentations on models of city-region governance that they during their long careers and vast experience in metropolitan government in India and the Philippines respectively had helped to develop and institute in Kolkata and Manila, including: autonomous local government units; the mixed local and regional governance model; and the unified city-region model. 6

11 Several lessons learned were identified throughout the case study presentations. As cities continue to grow, there is a need to take a regional development approach due to the nature of growth patterns, the boundary of the region is in itself dynamic. The need for a regional approach especially for the Kathmandu Valley is necessitated not just by the growth of the city itself, however, but also by its coalescing with the other urban settlements in the Valley, resulting in an expansive built-up area comprised of several local jurisdictions. Another major challenge is the increasing environmental degradation which no single local authority acting independently can address. This problem, in turn, affects the Valley residents health, social wellbeing, and economic productivity. Stakeholder participation a hugely important component of the democratic process is complicated and hard to fully materialize in an urban context. Stakes shift with stakeholders and the stakeholders themselves are always changing. Another important lesson learned is the need for sharing political power and to determine the non-negotiable attributes for all the institutions and stakeholders involved. Similarly a regional authority must have the ability to continually evolve, adopt and adjust to development in the area. While there are many models of regional authorities, Kathmandu Valley must create their own regional development mechanism in order to effectively meet the needs of its communities. Much emphasis was on the need to be flexible in regional coordination approach and to ensure participation as well as to understand the importance of obtaining the confidence of elected representative in the regional coordination process. The establishment of a regional coordination approach depends significantly on appreciation by elected representatives and top level decision-makers of the basic rationale and benefits of urban (and regional) environmental planning which invariably requires inter-jurisdictional cooperation and collaboration. It appears that comprehensive and long-term planning is well understood and appreciated by technical personnel, but without the support of their superiors, their suggestions may not even be considered. There is a real need to deepen the understanding and broaden the appreciation of urban environmental planning and inter-jurisdictional cooperation among elected officials, without their support, a regional coordination approach will not come to fruition. Action Plan for Regional Development Authority The development of an action plan was a key outcome of the workshop. The plan was created on the final day of the workshop as a culmination of the work completed during in the previous two days. At the beginning of the action plan development process, participants were asked to define positions and interests of all four levels of government representation: national; state/district; municipalities; and wards. This activity provided an opportunity to understand different perspectives and to emphasize the commonalities and comprehend differences so that a pragmatic approach would be selected. As an exercise, each group listed the non-negotiable attributes for each level of the government. Participants engaged in facilitated small and large group discussion designed to encourage consensus building around the following issues: New and/or expanded roles and responsibilities of Kathmandu Metropolitan City and Local Governments in Kathmandu Valley. Collaborative working arrangements to plan and execute development activities, especially in regard to human resources and financial management. Civil society involvement in planning and implementation of regional planning and development policies. Coordinated support of international donors and aid organizations for national and local government efforts to create a regional planning mechanism. 7

12 Participants differentiated local issues from regional issues, and by consensus agreed that local issues relate to those issues that have effect on people and land within the local area with no substantial effects beyond. On the other hand, regional issues have effects on people and land of the region and are not limited to a single lower government entity. The regional issues are also common to more than one local body and require a common platform. At the conclusion of the consensus building discussion, participants were divided into four groups, and each group was asked to develop a schedule with tasks, a timetable and specific milestones required for the formation of a regional development authority. The groups were also asked to identify stakeholders whose interests should be represented in this process. Lastly, the group identified the appropriate agency/organization that would be responsible for each task. The final time-bound action plan consolidates the milestones developed in the workshop, and has been refined based on further discussion with Kathmandu Metropolitan City officials and key workshop participants. The action plan calls for the establishment of an operational Kathmandu Valley Regional Development Authority (KVDA) by the end of year five. The key component of the action plan is the establishment of a steering committee mandated with the task of coordinating several stakeholders both within the central and local government. The steering committee will also act as a provisional secretariat, and KMC will provide leadership at the beginning. A three-stage development process is envisaged in the action plan. First, a position document is prepared with the involvement of stakeholders and experts. This is primarily for generating wider discussion and to provide a probable input for constitutional provision. Since Nepal is currently in the process of writing a new constitution, it could be an opportune moment to incorporate a provision in the new constitution for mandating a regional coordination body for the Kathmandu Valley. The steering committee will oversee this critical task. In the second phase of the action plan, along with detail outreach, modality of regional coordination mechanism will be investigated and determined. This phase will determine the geographical scope and domain, analyze interest and position of various stakeholders, and include analysis of resources, strength and weakness of the involved organizations. The outcome of the second phase would be a policy document providing a framework for establishment of a Kathmandu Valley Development Authority. The final phase of the action plan relates to developing enabling legislative provisions, regulations and operation guidelines. Adopting a new policy such as a regional cooperation approach to planning and administration, and establishing a new organization such as a regional development authority, is a difficult and long-drawnout process, especially in an environment of serious economic limitations. Because the proposed policy and organization are new and have never been tried in Nepal before, the policy-making process has high risks of being either misdirected along the way or postponed indefinitely. The process stands a better chance of being considered, accepted and implemented if the concept is demonstrated through a practical, real-life, local experience. This could be in the form of a valley-wide infrastructure project (e.g. sanitation) with a project management structure that mimics the proposed development authority. Such a project can probably be pursued simultaneously during the second phase of the action plan. It is also recommended that this report and the recommended action plan for establishing a development authority body be submitted to the Ministry of Local Development, Ministry of Physical Planning and Works, National Planning Commission, concerned central government agencies, other municipalities and local governments in the Kathmandu Valley. Wider circulation of the workshop proceeding facilitates information dissemination and will be instrumental in initiating a discussion on regional coordination and establishment of the valley development authority. 8

13 Action Plan for the Establishment of Regional Planning Authority in Kathmandu Valley Timeline S. N. Task Year 1 Year 2 Year 3 Year 4 Year 5 1 Constitute a steering committee of major interests and academics 2 Prepare a Position Paper with regard to Regional Authority 3 Mobilize support for to be incorporating provision in the new constitution 4 Define the geographical limits/domain of the authority 5 Define interest of the people within the domain of the authority 6 Review current status and SWOT 7 Workout interrelation among central government, states, municipality and VDC 8 Prepare Policy Draft 9 Build consensus among stakeholders/constituents 10 Prepare legal document 11 Enact RDA act and develop supporting regulation and operational guidelines 12 Regional Development Authority Established and Operationa Involved Institutions KMC, Local Governments, MOLD, MOPPW, NPC and Experts, MUAN - Municipal Association of Nepal KMC, Local Governments, MOLD, MOPPW, NPC and Experts, MUAN - Municipal Association of Nepal KMC, Local Governments, MOLD, MOPPW, NPC and Experts, MUAN - Municipal Association of Nepal Central Government, KMC and Local Government, MUAN - Municipal Association of Nepal General Public, KMC and Local Governments, MUAN - Municipal Association of Nepal KMC, Local Governments, MOLD, MOPPW, NPC and Experts, MUAN - Municipal Association of Nepal KMC, Local Governments, MOLD, MOPPW, NPC and Experts, MUAN - Municipal Association of Nepal KMC, Local Governments, MOLD, MOPPW, NPC and Experts, MUAN - Municipal Association of Nepal General Public, KMC, Central and Local Governments, MUAN - Municipal Association of Nepal Central Government, NPC and Legal Experts, MUAN - Municipal Association of Nepal Parliament and Steering Committee, MUAN - Municipal Association of Nepal Central Government, MUAN - Municipal Association of Nepal Responsible Agency KMC, NPC Steering Committee Steering Committee Steering Committee Steering Committee, KMC Steering Committee Steering Committee Steering Committee Steering Committee Steering Committee Central Government Central Government, KMC and Local Governments Notes: KMC: Kathmandu Metropolitan City NPC: National Planning Commission MOPPW: Ministry of Physical Planning and Works MOLD: Ministry of Local Development Local Governments: District (State), Municipalities and Village Development Committees

14 Workshop Agenda Wednesday 11 February :00 9:30 Registration 9:30 9:40 Welcome Mr. Devendra Dongol Department Head, Physical Development and Construction Kathmandu Metropolitan City 9:40 10:00 Workshop Inauguration and Remarks Mr. Narayan Gopal Malego Chief and Executive Officer Kathmandu Metropolitan City 10:00 10:15 Introductions and Objective of the Workshop Ms. Meril Dobrin Fujiki Manager, URBAN ASIA: Challenges of Transition and Governance Seminar Series East-West Center, Honolulu, Hawaii, USA 10:15 10:30 Morning Tea and group photograph Sessions on teambuilding, problem solving, and problem tree analysis facilitated by Ms. Dee Dee Letts, President, Resolutions Hawaii, USA 10:30 11:00 Building a Successful Leadership Team Exploring the dynamics and importance of team building 11:00 11:30 Creative Problem Solving Techniques and Strategies Stimulating creative thinking skills among teams 11:30 12:30 Team Building and Problem Solving Exercises 12:30 13:00 Introduction to Problem Tree Analysis 13:00 13:45 Lunch Identifying core problems facing urban development in Kathmandu Valley and analyzing root causes, effects and relationships 13:45 15:45 Problem Tree Analysis Group Exercise 15:45 16:00 Afternoon Tea 16:00 17:00 Overview of Regional Planning Models Panel discussion with invited experts on the basic models for a regional approach to urban development, facilitated by Ms. Letts 10

15 Mr. K.C. Sivaramakrishnan Chairman, Center for Policy Research, Senior Fellow, Institute of Social Sciences, New Delhi, India; Former Secretary to Government of India, Ministry of Urban Development; and former Chief Executive of the Calcutta Metropolitan Development Authority Dr. Nathaniel von Einsiedel Chairman/CEO, CONCEP, Inc., and President, The Urban Partnerships Foundation, Makati City, Philippines; former Regional Coordinator for Asia-Pacific, UN Urban Management Programme; and former Commissioner for Planning, Metropolitan Manila Commission Thursday 12 February :00 9:15 Opening Problem Solving Exercise 9:15 10:15 Review of Problem Tree Analysis Facilitated by Ms. Letts 10:15 10:30 Morning Tea 10:30 11:00 Expert Comments on Problem Tree Analysis Outcome Mr. K.C. Sivaramakrishnan and Dr. Nathaniel von Einsiedel, facilitated by Ms. Letts 11:00 12:00 The Regional Development Authority Model Experience in India: Metropolitan Cities of Mumbai, Bangalore, Chennai, Kolkata, Hyderabad, Delhi Cases study presented by Mr. K.C. Sivaramakrishnan 12:00 13:00 Question and Answer on India Case Study 13:00 13:45 Lunch 13:45 14:00 Team Building Exercise 14:00 15:00 The Regional Development Authority Model Experience in the Philippines Case study presented by Dr. Nathaniel von Einsiedel 15:00 16:00 Question and Answer on Philippines Case Study 16:00 16:15 Afternoon Tea 16:15 16:45 Partnership for Urban Waste Management in Kathmandu Valley Presented by Mr. Badal Lal Nyachhyon Director, MULTI Disciplinary Consultants (P), Ltd. 16:45 17:00 Question and Answer 11

16 Friday 13 February :00 9:15 Problem Solving Exercise Sessions on consensus building, action plan development activities facilitated by Ms. Letts 9:15 9:45 Consensus Building Elements, process, and value of negotiation, interests and positions 9:45 10:45 Consensus Building Exercise 10:45 11:00 Morning Tea 11:00 11:15 Summary of Proceedings, Days :15 13:00 Small Group Discussions on Action Plan Development 13:00 13:45 Lunch 13:45 14:00 Team Building Exercise 14:00 15:30 Group Reports 15:30 15:45 Afternoon Tea 15:45 16:45 Action Plan Prioritization and Next Steps 16:45 17:00 Workshop Summary and Closing Mr. Devendra Dongol and Ms. Fujiki 12

17 Expert Biographies Kathmandu Metropolitan City Mr. Narayan Gopal Malego Chief and Executive Officer, Kathmandu Metropolitan City, Nepal Mr. Narayan Gopal Malego was appointed by the Council of Ministers (Cabinet) as Chief and Executive Officer of Kathmandu Metropolitan City in Oct Prior to this, Mr. Malego served as Acting Secretary, Government of Nepal, and Joint Secretary at the Ministry of Land Reform and Management, Government of Nepal. He joined the Nepal Government Service as a Section Officer in the Ministry of General Administration and has served in several Ministries in the Government of Nepal including as Chief District Officer, Joint Secretary of the National Planning Commission, Ministry of Home Affairs, and Director General in the Department of Information of the Ministries of Communication. Through these various appointments, he has gained broad experience in administrative, management and planning activities of various districts in Nepal and in national level issues related with planning, programming and policy formulation. He has attended several national and international seminars and conferences in various fields. Mr. Malego holds a master s degree in public administration as well as bachelor s degree in law from Tribhuvan University, Nepal. Mr. Devendra Dongol Department Head, Physical Development and Construction, Kathmandu Metropolitan City, Nepal Mr. Devendra Dongol brings 24 years of experience working in Kathmandu Metropolitan City in the field of urban planning and development, and urban infrastructure. He currently serves as the Head of the Department of Physical Development and Construction, where he plans and coordinates urban projects with support from international funding agencies and cities such as UNESCAP, UN-Habitat, GTZ, Japan International Cooperation Agency, European Commission, and Stuttgart City and University. In 1981, Mr. Dongol joined the Planning and Development Collaborative International/ United States Agency for International Development Kathmandu as a local consultant and worked for integrated rural development projects in various districts of Nepal. In1995, he was promoted to the post of Department Head of the Urban Development Department of Kathmandu Metropolitan City. In this capacity, Mr. Dongol was actively involved in the promotion and implementation of the urban development plan and program which specifically focused on urban planning, land use, housing, environmental management, conservation of historic sites, and waste management. In 2002 he was appointed as a national co-director for the Kathmandu Valley Mapping Project in Kathmandu Valley (a European Union Grant Aid Project). Mr. Dongol undertook study and research visits in the field of urban planning and development at the University of Stuttgart in 2001 and 2005 and participated in several urban planning and development workshops and conferences in France, Spain, Germany and Japan. Mr. Dongol holds a master s degree in infrastructure planning from the University of Stuttgart, Germany (1995) and a bachelor s degree in civil engineering from Nagpur University, India. 13

18 Experts Dr. Nathaniel von Einsiedel Chairman/CEO, CONCEP, Inc., and President, The Urban Partnerships Foundation, Makati City, Philippines; Former Regional Coordinator for Asia-Pacific, UN Urban Management Programme, Bangkok, Thailand; and Former Commissioner for Planning, Metropolitan Manila Commission, Philippines Dr. Nathaniel von Einsiedel is an Urban Management Specialist as well as a licensed Urban Environmental Planner and Architect in the Philippines. He has over 30 years experience in urban development planning and management in government and the private sector as well as in technical assistance programs in developing countries. His government experience includes regional urban development policy, land use planning, housing for low-income families, and capital investments programming. For 10 years, Dr. von Einsiedel served as the Commissioner for Planning for the Metropolitan Manila Commission (MMC). The MMC was the Philippine's very first attempt at a metropolitan planning and management system for the country's National Capital Region comprised of 17 local government units. Since then, the MMC developed into the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority. As Commissioner of Planning, Dr. von Einsiedel prepared and managed Metro Manila's overall development plan and the coordination of the planning activities of the 17 towns/cities as well as of national government agencies for projects within Metro Manila. His private sector projects have involved master-planned mixed-use communities, institutional and recreational developments, and heritage conservation planning. He also served as an urban development consultant to international development agencies such as the Asian Development Bank, World Bank, USAID, UNDP, and UN-ESCAP. Until 2003, he was the Regional Coordinator for Asia-Pacific of the United Nations Urban Management Programme, a technical assistance facility for improving city management in 22 cities in 11 Asian countries. He is Chairman/CEO of CONCEP and the President of the Urban Partnerships Foundation, a global knowledge-sharing network of urban practitioners. Dr. von Einsiedel holds a PhD in Public Administration from the Pacific Western University, Hawaii, USA; a diploma in development management (in developing countries) from the International Institute of Public Administration, Paris, France; a MS in urban planning from Columbia University, New York, USA; and a BS in architecture from the University of the Philippines. Mr. Badan Lal Nyachhyon Director, MULTI Disciplinary Consultants (P), Ltd, Nepal Mr. Nyachhyon has over 37 years of experience in various fields of engineering and management and currently serves as the Director of MULTI Disciplinary Consultants (P), Ltd. Under his leadership, the company successfully completed several design and construction of infrastructure development projects. Mr. Nyachhyon is the Founder of Zero Waste Nepal and Earthquake Safety Initiatives, as well as Founder and President of the Society of Consulting Architectural and Engineering Firms. He has presented several papers at various national and international forums, and attended several training seminars, workshops, and conferences including, The Role of Private Sector in Transport Industry, Earthquake Resistance of Small Dams, and Technical Consultancy Development Programme for Asia and the Pacific conferences in Bangladesh, Kathmandu, Pakistan, Malaysia and Korea. He has contributed significantly to national policy documents such as the Public Private Partnership for Urban Waste Management and Enhancement and Development of Sanitary Sewerage Service in Urban and Semi-Urban Setting of Nepal submitted to the Government of Nepal, the Ministry of Finance, and the Asian Development Bank. Mr. Nyachhyon holds a master s degree in Seismic Design of Buildings from Uzbekistan Academy of Sciences, and project management training from CDG/MDF West Germany. 14

19 Mr. K.C. Sivaramakrishnan Chairman, Center for Policy Research; and Senior Fellow, Institute of Social Sciences, New Delhi, India; Former Secretary to Government of India, Ministry of Urban Development; and Former Chief Executive of the Calcutta Metropolitan Development Authority, India Mr. Sivaramakrishnan is currently the Chairman of the Center for Policy Research and a Senior Fellow at the Institute of Social Sciences in New Delhi, India. After joining the Indian Administrative Service in 1958 and holding various assignments in West Bengal, Mr. Sivaramakrishnan served as Secretary and Chief Executive of the Calcutta Metropolitan Development Authority. In 1985 he joined as first Project Director of the Central Ganga Authority which pioneered a program to combat pollution in the Ganges river and concurrently as Additional Secretary, Ministry of Environment. Later he became Secretary, Ministry of Urban Development in 1988 and was personally involved in the legislation to amend the constitution to provide a framework for decentralization and empower rural and urban local bodies. As Chairman of the Environment Law Committee of the Ministry of Environment, Mr. Sivaramakrishnan worked with a network of National Law Schools to enhance the capacity of the legal community, regulatory organizations and NGOs in environmental law enforcement and adjudication. After retirement from the Indian Administrative Service in 1992, he joined the World Bank as a Senior Advisor of Urban Management. Since his return in 1996, he has been associated with the Centre for Policy Research and the Institute of Social Sciences. Mr. Sivaramakrishnan was a Parvin Fellow at Woodrow Wilson School, Princeton University in 1965, a Visiting Professor and Homi Bhabha Fellow at the Indian Institute of Management, Calcutta in 1977, and a Senior Lecturer at the Economic Development Institute of the World Bank from 1978 to He is a member of several associations, including the State Planning Board of Delhi, the Planning Commission (as part of the Expert Group on Urban Transport), and the Governing Council of the Center for Policy Research where he is also Chairman of the Executive Committee. He was also a founding member of the prestigious India Habitat Center in New Delhi. He received his M.A. in Economics in 1955 and his B.L (Law) in 1958, both from Chennai, India. East-West Center Mr. Pradip Raj PANT PhD Candidate, East-West Center Graduate Fellow, Department of Urban and Regional Planning, University of Hawaii at Manoa, Honolulu, Hawaii, USA Mr. Pant has worked in the field of road transportation at both the technical implementation level and at the planning and policy level, first as an engineer and later as a Senior Divisional Engineer in the Department of Roads, Government of Nepal. As a Senior Divisional Engineer, he worked in the Departments Project Directorate (ADB) which is responsible for overall administration and management of Asian Development Bank funded road construction works. Subsequently he worked as the Division Chief of the Kathmandu Division. As a Division Chief he was responsible for the personnel, technical and financial administration of the Division Office which is responsible for the construction and maintenance of both strategic and core urban roads within the capital city Kathmandu. Mr. Pant has a bachelor s degree in civil engineering from India and a Master of Civil Engineering degree from University of Queensland, Australia. He began his studies at the University of Hawaii at Manoa in fall

20 List of Participants Kathmandu Metropolitan City 1. Mr. Rishi Raj Acharya Planning Officer District Development Committee 2. Mr. Sabir Ahmed Computer Technician Information System Unit 3. Mr. Narayan Babu Bhattarai Division Chief Public Work Department 4. Mr. Bhairab Bahadur Bogati Chief Road and Transport Division 5. Mr. Devendra Dongol Department Head Physical Development and Construction 6. Mr. Bhairab Gogati Engineer Public Work Department 7. Mr. Shankar Raj Kandel Chief International Relation Department Public Private Partnership for Urban Environment 8. Mr. Madhan Shrestha Madhan Bdo Junior Engineer Kathmandu Metropolitan City 9. Mr. Nuchhe M. Maharjan Junior Engineer Kathmandu Metropolitan City 10. Mr. Narayan Gopal Malego Chief and Executive Officer Kathmandu Metropolitan City 11. Mr. Nurnidhi Neupane Chief Metropolitan Reform Program 12. Mr. Nhuchhe Malasijan Nhuchhe Kapin Junior Engineer Kathmandu Metropolitan City 13. Mr. Nurnidhi Neupane Chief Metropolitan Reform Program 14. Mr. Ramhari Phuyal Engineer Kathmandu Metropolitan City 15. Mr. Ram Hari Phuyul Engineer Kathmandu Metropolitan City 16. Mr. Shanta Ram Pokharel Department Chief Administration and Organization Department 17. Mr. Surendra Prakash Rajkarnikar Section Engineer Kathmandu Metropolitan City 18. Mr. Bimal Rijal Department Chief Urban Development Department 19. Mr. Shaligram Rijal Under Secretary Kathmandu Metropolitan City 20. Mr. Roshan Man Shakya Engineer Public Work Department, KMC 21. Ms. Sudha Shakya GIS Assistant Information System Unit, KMC 22. Mr. Suraj Shakya Engineer/Architect Public Work Department 23. Mr. Madhav Bahadur Shrestha Junior Engineer Kathmandu Metropolitan City 16

21 24. Mrs. Archana Shrestha Architect, Division Head Urban Development Department 25. Mr. Kamal Babu Shrestha Engineer Kathmandu Metropolitan City 26. Mr. Prem Bahadur Shrestha Junior Engineer Kathmandu Metropolitan City 27. Mr. Manoj Singh Suwal Engineer Public Work Department, KMC 28. Mr. Sanat Kumar Thapa Division Chief and Senior Admin Officer Admin Department, KMC Kathmandu Valley Municipal Government 29. Mr. Babu Ram Gautam Chief Executive Officer Lalitpur Sub-Metropolitan City 30. Mr. Ram Prasad Pathak Chief Executive Officer Madhyapur Thimi Municipality 31. Mr. Narayan Sah Satya Chief of Engineering and Planning Unit Madhyapur Thimi Municipality 32. Mr. Hari Lochan Sharma Chief Executive Officer Bhaktapur Municipality 33. Mr. Prabin Shrestha Head/Senior Architect Urban Development Division Lalitpur Sub-metropolitan City 34. Mr. Gopal Prasad Parajuli Local Development Officer District Development Committee, Kathmandu National Government 35. Mr. Kamal Raj Pande Joint Secretary Ministry of Physical Planning and Works 36. Mr. Saroj Kumar Pradhan Senior Divisional Engineer Department of Roads 37. Mr. Girija Prasad Gorkhaly Chief Urban Development and Physical Planning 38. Mr. Pramod Krishna Karmacharya Engineer Department of Urban Development, Building Construction Education and Experts 39. Mr. Devendra Noth Gangol Consultant MULTI Disciplinary Consultant 40. Mr. Umesh B. Malla President/Urban Regional Planner Regional and Urban Planners Society of Nepal (RUPSON) 41. Mr. Badan Lal Nyachhon Director MULTI Disciplinary Consultant 42. Dr. Jagadish Chandra Pokharel Former Vice Chairman National Planning Commission; Chairman Development Resources Mobilization Network 43. Dr. Shankar Prasad Sharma Economist Former Vice Chairman National Planning Commission 44. Dr. Rajan Suwal Principal Khwopa Engineering College 17

22 International NGOs and Aid Organizations 45. Mr. Arjun Koirala Adviser, Urban Planning GTZ/UDLE 46. Ms. Lajana Manandhar Executive Director LUMANTI Support Group for Shelter 47. Ms. Bidya Pradhan Environmental Officer International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development 48. Mr. Laxman Rajbhandari Consultant Manager GTZ/UDLE 49. Ms. Laxmi Sharma Project Officer for Urban Development Asian Development Bank 50. Mr. Prafulla Pradhan Habitat Program Manager UN-HABITAT 18

23 Appendixes

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25 Kathmandu Valley Profile Briefing Paper Authored by Pradip Raj Pant PhD Candidate, East-West Center Graduate Fellow, Department of Urban and Regional Planning, University of Hawaii at Manoa, Honolulu, Hawaii, USA Devendra Dongol Department Head, Physical Development and Construction, Kathmandu Metropolitan City, Nepal Prepared for Governance and Infrastructure Development Challenges in the Kathmandu Valley Workshop February 2009 Kathmandu Metropolitan City, Nepal

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27 Kathmandu Valley Profile Briefing Paper Location Kathmandu Valley lies between the latitudes 27º and 27º north and longitudes 85º and 85º east and is located at a mean elevation of about 1,300 meters (4,265 feet) above sea level. Climate and Precipitation The climate of Kathmandu Valley is sub-tropical cool temperate with maximum of 35.6 C in April and minimum of 3 C in January and 75% annual average humidity. The temperature in general is 19 C to 27 C in summer and 2 C to 20 C in winter. The average rainfall is 1400 millimeters, most of which falls during June to August. Administrative Division Kathmandu Valley comprises of three districts, Kathmandu, Lalitpur, and Bhaktapur, together which cover an area of 899 square kilometers, whereas the area of the Valley as a whole is 665 square kilometers. The Valley encloses the entire area of Bhaktapur district, 85% of Kathmandu district and 50% of Lalitpur district. The three valley districts have a total of 150 local administrative units (Village Development Committees and Municipalities) out of which five city governments have the highest population and economic activities. With more than 1.5 million people, (220,000 households) the Kathmandu Valley is the most important urban concentration in Nepal. Being a capital city, Kathmandu Valley in comparison to the rest of Nepal, possesses basic amenities like water supplies, electricity, gas, telecommunications, roads, sanitation, education, security, and transportation. New products and services are first launched in the valley and therefore the inhabitants have access to modern equipment and technology. New technologies and interventions come to the valley first, and this technological sophistication along with other amenities is an important pull factor for rural to urban migration. Kathmandu Valley (KV) is the urban center of Nepal and includes five major cities: Kathmandu, Lalitpur, Bhaktapur, Kirtipur, and Thimi (refer to map in page 3). Kathmandu Metropolitan City (KMC) is the largest city in Nepal and the cosmopolitan heart of the Himalayan region. With a history and culture dating back 2,000 years, the city, along with the other towns in the Valley, ranks among the oldest human settlements in central Himalaya. Old Kathmandu corresponds to the current city core, encompassing a compact zone of temple squares and narrow streets. The old royal palace complex of Durbar Square, is in the center of Old Kathmandu and has been designated as a World Heritage site by UNESCO. Page 1 of 13

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29 Densely populated for millennia, Kathmandu s present demography is very cosmopolitan in which Newars the indigenous people of Kathmandu still comprise a large segment of the population. Kathmandu s culture has been inspired by the convergence of Hindu and Buddhist traditions in traditional customs, festivals, art, and literature. Population and Land Area The five municipalities in essence cover the core urban area of the valley with the highest population concentration. The 2001 census population along with the projected population is given below. Municipality 2001 Census Population Projected 2011 Population Kathmandu Metropolitan City 671, 846 1,011,105 Lalitpur Sub- Metropolitan City 163, ,852 Bhaktapur Municipality 74, ,561 Kirtipur Municipality 37,877 46,477 Madhyapur Thimi Municipality 39,988 49,767 Major Economic Activities Kathmandu is the centre for several major industries such as carpets, garments, finance and tourism, as well as health and educational services. This is mainly due to the lack of essential infrastructure and services in other parts of the country. According to one estimate, the Kathmandu Metropolitan City's economic output is worth more than Rs.170 billon per year. Trade accounts for 21% of its finances. Manufacturing comes next in importance with 19%. Kathmandu is a major manufacturer and exporter of garments and woolen carpets. Other sectors are agriculture (9%), education (6%), transport (6%) and hotels and restaurants (5%). Tourism is also a key component of the city's economy. Land Use A recent project looked at the land use in the five municipalities of the valley. The land use categorization made by the study is summarized below and detailed in the annex. Kathmandu Metropolitan City Dominant land use type in Kathmandu municipality is mixed which mostly comprises residential and commercial areas. It occupies hectares, or 48.88% of the total area. A total of eighteen land use types are found in this municipality. The road area also occupies a significant land area ( hectare). Page 3 of 13

30 Lalitpur Municipality Residential and commercial area classified as mixed land use covers the largest part the Lalitpur municipal area, comprising hectares, followed by cultivation and institutional areas. Bhaktapur Municipality Cultivation dominates land use types among all other types in the Bhaktapur area which occupies hectares of the total municipal area. It is followed by mixed land use with hectares. Institutional area falls third with hectares. Kirtipur Municipality According to the area calculated from the GIS database, the largest portion in the Kirtipur municipality is occupied by cultivation, followed by plantation. Mixed land use, comprised of residential and commercial area, covers hectares of the total area. Madhyapur Thimi Municipality Cultivation covers the largest portion of the Madhyapur Thimi municipal area totaling hectares. Mixed area of residential and commercial type is second, followed by institutional area comprising hectares. A review of the land use indicates that two municipalities: KMC and LSMC are dominated by mixed land uses, which are used for residential and commercial purposes. In the remaining three municipalities along with other Village Development Committees in the valley, a significant percent of land use is cultivation land. This past trend in urbanization indicates that these cultivation areas are most susceptible to haphazard urbanization. Political Context of Decentralization and Local Government During the Panchayat era ( ), local authorities were placed within the constitutional framework, however, they had been used extensively as an extended arm of the central government and as a result became centrally driven and non-effective. Later, based on the recommendations from different committees and commissions the Decentralization Act 1982, regulation was enforced in While this initiated a significant process in decentralization putting all district level line agencies under the umbrella of respective District Panchyats in practice it gave less emphasis on fiscal decentralization and less orientation on local governance. Following the constitutional changes in 1990, three different Local Body (LB) Acts in 1992 took new initiatives to strengthen the political process involving people in the local governance system. The acts were the continuation of the past without much change in decision-making power, accountability, and resources without breaking sectoral implementation against decentralization. The increased expectation after the peoples movement in 1990 put pressure in favor of decentralization, leading to the formation of a high level Decentralization Coordination Page 4 of 13