Riverine disaster risk likely to drop after settlement removal
KATHMANDU: Kathmandu Metropolitan City (KMC) has stated that the risk of river-related disasters is expected to decrease this year following the removal of squatter settlements from riverbank areas in the capital.
According to Senior Superintendent of Municipal Police Bishnu Prasad Joshi, settlements along river corridors in wards 11, 14, 31, and 32 were cleared, which in previous years had been highly vulnerable to flooding and inundation. He expressed confidence that only minor and isolated incidents may occur this monsoon.
“In past years, most flood-related incidents occurred in river-adjacent settlements. With the removal of those settlements, we believe riverine disaster cases will significantly decrease this year, except for a few isolated incidents,” Joshi said.
However, he cautioned that areas from Samakhusi to Khadipakha still require heightened vigilance during the rainy season due to potential water-induced hazards.
KMC has also developed strategic plans to reduce urban disaster risks, including preparedness measures, emergency response systems, and post-disaster rehabilitation frameworks. The plan incorporates ward-level capacity building and coordination between internal bodies and partner organizations.
Joshi emphasized the need for a participatory urban safety mechanism, stating that collective knowledge, skills, and planning are essential to reducing risks effectively. The city plans to begin implementing the strategy from the next fiscal year, along with corresponding programs and budget allocations.
He also noted that fire incidents remain the city’s primary urban risk, with an increasing number of electricity-related fires. Although fire brigades are dispatched within 30 seconds of receiving alerts, heavy traffic often delays their arrival at incident sites.
Officials say discussions are ongoing to strengthen ward-level disaster management infrastructure, improve risk forecasting, and enhance coordination between municipal and local response units.
