Himal Discussion: “Limits to growth”

On 13 October 1991, Himal organised a panel discussion to cover a limited range of issues on the present and future of Kathmandu Valley. Three themes on the deteriorating social, economic and physical environment of the Valley were addressed. A presentation on each theme was followed by discuss ion, which were moderated by Ajaya Dixit. Rapporteurs: Manisha Aryal, Bijaya Lal Shrestha. Thanks to Hans Bjoness.

THEME ONE

What are the prerequisites for planning and implementing functions to reverse a situation of deteriorating social economic and physical environment?

PRESENTATION:
Padam Chhetri: The deterioration in social, economic and physical environment occurred given the following: a highly centralised system of decision-making and extraneous factors decisions; ineffectiveness of local government systems, municipalities and town development committees and investment decisions (in the industrial sector) made outside the planning framework by individuals and even government agencies; the sudden rise of export trade based on air-cargo; no revision of old land-use plans; a very individualistic social behaviour where only personal benefit was considered; highly subsidised infrastructure services for people who could afford it; unwillingness to participate in provisional infrastructure; and services being focused on selected areas, while others were neglected.

Given this background the prerequisites are: willingness to do something at the governmental, institutional and personal level; political commitment, formulation of conceptual framework for physical development of the Valley, which must include land-use and environmental strategy, mobilisation of resources, and an overall guiding vision which incorporates strategies.

DISCUSSION

Hans Schild: Willingness to do something is necessary, a precondition for which is awareness-generation. Strategies, not plans, are needed.

Prafulla Man Pradhan: We have to have an achievable and desirable vision, and infrastructure has to be worked out accordingly. We have to know our goal: where we are at the present and what the gap is. Only then can practical pre-requisites and solutions be worked out.

Bhishnananda Bajracharya: Decentralised urban development and promotion of satellite towns which can re-direct peoples´ focus away from the Valley are essential. Industries that depend on raw materials found in the Tarai can be located near the source, with Kathmandu only having "´Specialised services such as banking. Perhaps it is time to talk about incentives and disincentives, and the social impact of industries, Government policies and development actions on the people of the Valley.

Shivaji Upadhaya: Prevention of Government from holding land would be the most important step for the growth of the Valley. The plans have been coming from technical wings or central headquarters, and people have not been involved. Resources, including manpower, have to be mobilised and peoples´ participation sought at all levels.

Indra Bahadur Shrestha: Rapid population growth has not been accompanied by expansion and extension of the urban infrastructure. There are acts and laws which are not practical in the present context and, aided by weak enforcement agencies, have given rise to haphazard growth in the Valley. Minimal budgets are allocated for the poor urban areas and programmes are carried out independently by different agencies. Proper balanced development through conservation might be the best technique to maintain a healthy environment and cultural heritage.

THEME TWO
In what way can special efforts be made to meet the needs of the under-privileged and the poor?

 PRESENTATION

 Hisila Yami: Centrallised planning, with concentration of all resources (modern amenities and facilities) is making Kathmandu Valley a centre of refuge for people (including the have-nots) and making land investment attractive. Land has to be treated as a special asset because it has incremental value and cannot be expanded outside its rigid pocket. Planned urbanisation is possible only when land is under public authority, otherwise it will result in mushrooming of squatters´camps. A by-product of the unplanned urbanisation process, the in-migration and "squatting" can be checked when planning is done in a decentralised manner, hinterlands are developed, satellite towns are created, the gap between urban and rural is minimised and organisations created to distribute land as per need. The problem of squatters must be included in any development process and a special programme setup for the urban poor, with special concentration on women. A strong political will and good organisation is needed to protect the planners´ interests from the politicians´.

DISCUSSION:

 Sujata Rana: Who are the poor, who are the underprivileged and what are their needs? Instead of spiralling land prices, it might be the unregulated rent which is forcing some of the poor to become squatters.

Indra Bahadur Shreshta: The government should define the real poor first, after which, it must launch some real programmes to increase job productivity, improve access to government services and create earning opportunities in the informal sector. For the real poor, land might be the least of priorities, with food health, education, and so on, coming first.

Prafulla Man Pradhan: Because private land is well looked-after, it is much easier for squatters to squat on public lands. To provide basic needs, the independent sector must be activated.

Bhisnananda Bajracharya: Ultimately, public organisations are manipulated by the politicians. A more practical idea would be guided land development, with management aspects strengthened.

Padam Chhetri: The squatters seem more privileged than under-privileged; they have found a place to stay and seem to be utilising the existing infrastructure and services. Squatters are not problems in Kalhmandu. Only because it was unheard of before is it receiving so much attention at present. Migration cannot be checked, because Kathmandu is a magnet and will continue to attract people. We cannot look at urban development strategy as removed from the rural development strategies. A total development strategy which emphasises urban-rural linkages and poverty alleviation at all levels is necessary.

Shivaji Upadhaya: There are people who are even more under-privileged than those who are classified as the poor or as squatters. Services are crucial for these under-privileged. We should also look into appropriate technologies to meet the demands for various services in any urban setup.

Hans Schild: The Government could initiate a process to acquire land and make it accessible to economically weaker sections. The squatter settlements are not being upgraded because the Government is afraid of "replicability". Homelessness, though, should be taken seriously and if the Government is not able to open up any housing schemes, we must look into improving the settlements they occupy.

Jibgar Joshi: The various political forces in any urban setting must be understood in order to implement plans. Kathmandu is a dynamic and changing city. Rural and urban areas should be simultaneously developed and strong land use regulations and a responsive planning system be set up to accommodate the underprivileged and the poor. Development will go on irrespective of what is said, and, for this the forces of change have to be understood.

Padma Ratna Tuladhar: Squatting is a human problem. A revolutionary kind of land reform is needed to redistribute land among the needy.

THEME THREE

What should be done to conserve the cultural and urban physical heritage of Kathmandu Valley?

 PRESENTATION

 Yogeswor Parajuli: Once the monuments collapse, they cannot be reconstructed. As regards conservation, the decisions have to be forthcoming from both the policy-making and the people´s level. Competent bodies like the Department of Archaeology, which is responsible for supervising works in the monument preservation zones, must be made more powerful.

But there should also be a check and balance system to supervise the work of the Department. While carrying out conservation works, it must adhere to specific conservation ethics, especially the Venice Charter. For example they must use the original materials that were used to build the old monuments.

The activities of different sectoral agencies such as the Post Office Services and Electricity Authority must also be co-ordinated. So that post boxes and electric transformers are not placed in sensitive areas. In order to create awareness at the political level, data on the cultural and built environment is necessary. While carrying out conservation and preservation activities, "priorities" must be defined. For instance, the money spent on reconstructing the Chyasil in Deval in Bhaktapur Durbar Square could have helped preserve hundreds of other monuments. A compatible use of the monuments must be found. Regular inspection should be carried out and the monuments condition documented.

DISCUSSION

Bhisnananda Bajracharya: In order to preserve old buildings, the building skills also need to be preserved. Therefore, vocational schools to train students should be established. The Department of Archaeology does not have enough architects. At the same time architects do not have much say in how old buildings must be preserved. Some down-to-earth non-governmental organisations are necessary to conserve the monuments, as one can´t depend too much on donor agencies.

Hans Bjoness: Since we are talking of a living city, in addition to keeping the historical identify, a city must also be economically viable and be a proper place to live in. The Department of Archaeology is facing financial constraints. So what about activating the guthis? The areas right next to the monument zones also need to be preserved, as they influence the overall atmosphere.

Sujata Rana: If the local people don´t want to preserve, it could be said, why make the effort?

Hans Schild: Democracy is bottom-up process, but one cannot always rely on the people when it comes to conservation. It is not just the people at Durbar Square for whom the square is of interest. It is important to people of Bhaktapur, the country, and beyond, for entire humankind.

Indra Bahadur Shrestha: There is need for a RajPatra which provides provision for protecting the monuments. At all the temples, monuments and historically important areas, small signboards must be placed which highlight the history of these places. Approval must be required for any kind of development activity in the city centre. At present, the Department of housing asks only private builders for House designs, and government buildings do not need approval. There should be clear-cut scientific delineation of monumental conservation zones.

HisilaYami: Preservation cannot wait for donor agencies. We should try to generate income on our own. One way would be to rent out some old buildings at nominal rents. Encroachment has taken place in those patis which were uninhabited or do not come into regular use. These can, therefore, be converted into community-based libraries, health clinics, and so on.

Padma Ratna Tuladhar: How can we tell the people living in old houses to live there forever, devoid of modem amentities? Our ancestors had made arrangements for preservation of monuments through guthis. But land earnings today are very low. So why not sell them and deposit the money in the bank? The interest can help meet the preservation costs.