Kathmandu (NSET)
Kathmandu Valley Overview | NSET Description | Schools Overview | Scenario Overview | Action Plan Overview
The Kathmandu Valley Action Plan and Initiatives
As a response to the extreme risk identified in the Kathmandu Valley, the project worked with over 80 government and non-government institutions to develop a plan (NSET-2, 1999) to systematically reduce the risk over time. The Prime Minister of Nepal officially released and endorsed this plan in January, 1999 at the Earthquake Safety Day.The purpose of the plan is to assist His Majesty's Government of Nepal, concerned agencies and the municipalities of the Kathmandu Valley to reduce the region's earthquake risk over time by coordinating and focusing risk management activities. The specific objectives that this plan will focus on in order to achieve that purpose are: improving emergency response planning and capability, improving awareness of issues relating to earthquake risk, integrating seismic resistance into new construction processes, improving safety in school buildings, improving the seismic performance of existing structures, improving the seismic performance of utility and transportation systems, increasing experts' knowledge of the earthquake phenomenon, vulnerability, consequences and mitigation techniques, and preparing for long-term community recovery following damaging earthquakes.
Ten specific intiatives were defined as urgent for implementation in the next two years. NSET will actively aid and promote the implementation of the following objectives:
- NSET will request HMG/N Government to (1) constitute the National Disaster Management Council headed by the Prime Minister; and (2) direct the NDMC to define an integrated national disaster management system.
- Once constituted, the National Disaster Management Council should (1) provide guidance for the preparation of new (or revision of existing) integrated emergency response plans and (2) direct those organizations to prepare plans.
- NSET will work with the Ministry of Science and Technology to develop a comprehensive program to raise awareness about earthquake risk and mitigation options.
- NSET will work with the municipalities and districts in the Valley to create Disaster Management Committees and design a program of activites, including public awareness programs, for these committees.
- The Ministry of Housing and Physical Planning, per NSET's request, will constitute the Building Council and direct it to draft the rulse and procedures for implementing and enforcing the building code, formally adopting requirements to implement and enforce the code.
- NSET will work with the Ministry of Housing and Physical Planning and others to prepare training materials and provide training for building inspectors, masons and engineers on applied aspects of design and construction of buildings to conform to the Building Code.
- NSET will manage and coordinate the "School Earthquake Safety Project," which will (1) inform selected communities about the vulerability of their schools and what can be done to reduce the risk; (2) prepare school-specific plans for improvements in seismic safety; and (3) mobilize support to improve the safety of the school buildings. Non-structural hazards and mitigation methods will be explained through informational products produced by NSET.
- NSET will encourage the Nepal Telecommunicatios Corporation to assess the vulnerability of its system to earthquakes, identify the most vulnerable elements, and develop a program to improve its performance after earthquakes.
- NSET will encourage engineering institutes to develop and offer short courses for practicing engineers on earthquake engineering principles and procedures.
