VOL. 05,NO. 13,January 13, 2012 (Poush 29, 2068)

Even five months after the earthquake, a vast majority of the people are yet to recover from the loss of property in eastern parts of Nepal. As Nepal is celebrating National Earthquake Safety Day on January 16,2012, the time has come to look at the way by which to prevent economic catastrophe in the future

By KESHAB POUDEL

Months have passed since an earthquake of magnitude of 6.8 in Richter scale shaking Eastern Nepal. But people are yet to get the economic relief from the government. The majority of the houses destroyed by the earthquake are yet to be repaired and rebuilt due to lack of money.

According to the Ministry of Housing and Physical Planning, the economic loss from the last earthquake ran over 4 billion rupees. However, the estimate by other groups on the ground is much higher. Along with houses, the earthquake damaged large numbers school buildings, health posts and other infrastructure in the eastern hilly region.

Experts argue that it was a wakeup call for the valley which risked facing devastation of a very big scale. As Nepal is one of most vulnerable countries, it needs to prepare for earthquakes. Nepal has recorded over five dozens earthquakes measuring 4-5 Richter scale annually and there was a big quake in every 75 years.

At a program, organized by Nepal United States of America Chamber of Commerce and Industry (NUSACCI) in partnership with National Society for Earthquake Technology Nepal (NSET-N) and USAID, bankers, insurers and representatives of other financial sectors sat together to discuss the economic consequence of earthquakes in a seminar understanding potential impact of natural disasters on banking and insurance sectors and the need for preparedness.

“All disasters impact country’s economy – they disrupt economic activity and damage infrastructure. But the extent of the impact depends not only on the magnitude of the disaster, but also on society’s resilience; its ability to bounce back quickly. Both Haiti and Japan experienced devastating disasters in terms of human suffering and loss of life, but the long-term overall economic impact of those disasters will be strikingly different in Haiti than they will be in Japan. And this offers lessons for countries like Nepal,” said US ambassador to Nepal Scott H. DeLisi at the opening.

“As representatives of banks and insurance companies, you control access to capital and insurance – two critical inputs for those building new structures. Your standards and your decisions, as you issue loans or write insurance policies, can influence behavior and ultimately change the way buildings are constructed. Your impact is potentially every bit as powerful as government regulations if not more so. After all, money talks,” said ambassador DeLisi.

Along with loss of life, an earthquake may ruin Nepal’s economy given Kathmandu Valley’s rampant constructions of buildings and apartments and the investments by banks and financial sectors in the business.

“Over ninety-percent of housing and apartments in Kathmandu Valley are constructed without getting permission from the department,” said Shiva Hari Sharma, Deputy Director General Department of Urban Development and Building Construction.

Sharma’s statement indicated risk involved in high rise buildings due to earthquake. According to an estimate of National Society for Earthquake Technology (NSET), a pioneer organization working in the areas of earthquake safety, over sixty percent buildings will collapse in Kathmandu valley and over 200,000 people will die in case of an earthquake like that of 1934.

“It is unfortunate that a couple of companies have completed the process of EIA and remaining buildings constructed without EIA approval,” said Uddhav Banskota, joint secretary of Ministry of Environment. “Many buildings ignore safety issue.”

Non-compliance of building codes, EIA and CIEA by the private developers make valley’s population unsafe. Thus, bank’s investment in the housing sector is also at high risk.

“Imagine what Kathmandu might look like if banks and insurance companies insisted on the checks and balances necessary to ensure compliance with the building code. You would be protecting not only your investment, but the people of Nepal and the end product would be buildings that are sturdier and more likely to survive an earthquake than many of the structures going up around town as we speak here today,” said ambassador DeLisi. “Just imagine further that the private sector helped to implement those sound land-use plans by ensuring that loans and insurance would only be provided for sound investments that supported those plans. If that were a reality, Kathmandu might not be the sprawling, unplanned, and highly vulnerable city it is today.”

Experts say very low building standards, weak infrastructure and the Kathmandu’s geology which is built on the soft sediment of a former lake bed all contribute to the high risk level.

NUSACCI secretary general Anil Shah expressed the hope that this program will help financial sector to understand risk of earthquake.

History of Nepal’s Earthquake

Although Nepal was flat by 1934 earthquake, the country failed to learn from the past. Late Sardar Bhim Bahadur Pande in his book Tes Bakhat ko Nepal Vol III writes how Kathmandu Valley missed a great opportunity to transform as a modern open and spacious city due to visionless rulers of that time. “Had the rulers made efforts to reconstruct the city sketching a model, the city would have been open and spacious,” writes Pande. “It was a great misfortune when Nepal’s rulers declined to accept the international support offered by various countries of the world.”

Behavior of Nepalese has not changed much even today. Remaining open space and land of Kathmandu Valley are filled by unplanned haphazard constructions. Out of 10 multi-storied buildings, several are constructed at banks of the three major rivers. According to experts, the liquefaction process will be much higher in the river banks than other places.

“Keeping the vulnerability and risk of earthquake in the mind, we organized the workshop to learn risk and vulnerability of earthquake in banking, insurance and financial sector,” said Narendra Kumar Basnyat, president of NUSACCI. “This is just a beginning and we will discuss the matter more in the future.”

Quake on the line

According to geologists, it is only a matter of time before a major earthquake hits Nepal's densely populated Kathmandu Valley, where over 4 million people live in cramped, poorly-built housing with little or no awareness of the dangers.

Experts hold the view that as Nepal lies on the border between two huge plates that have moved together over millions of years to form the Himalayas, Nepal is at risk from an earthquake with a magnitude of around eight -- 10 times as powerful as the Haiti shock that killed more than 212,000 people.

Experts say that the area to the west of Kathmandu is undergoing the processes that drive earthquakes, and there has not been a quake on that section of the fault for hundreds of years. The larger the time gap (between quakes) the larger the quake is going to be. Many other major cities in the region are vulnerable to large earthquakes.

From the available data there has been no great earthquakes of magnitude 8.0 in the gap between the earthquakes of 1905 A. D and 1934 A. D. and there is a real threat that a major earthquake may occur in this gap that will affect Western Nepal.

Is Nepal’s banking sector alert on the risk posed by earthquakes? How Nepal’s central bank is preparing to provide the banking sector with all the liquidity they may require at the time of crisis? “We will integrate the economic risk of major earthquake in our national strategy,” said Finance minister Barsha Man Pun.

“While many earthquake hazard-reduction issues have been addressed by the national program during the past 14 years, one issue that warrants more attention is the economic consequences of a catastrophic earthquake. Efforts to manage earthquake hazards must include an assessment of the public and private sectors' ability to reduce and recover from earthquake-induced losses. Stricken communities and states should have the ability to maintain sufficient financial stability, thus allowing them to rebuild their economic bases following a catastrophic event,” says expert.

Measures to protect buildings against the effects of earthquakes must be taken. The economic consequences of seismic events are becoming greater every year. As Administrator of the United Nations Development Program Helen Clark in her recent visit said, Nepal needs to build strong enforcement for building codes and increase the sense of awareness and preparedness to avoid catastrophe.

Nepal is said to be ill-prepared to cope with disasters like earthquakes while it is celebrating the National Earthquake Safety Day. SHOKO NODA, country director of UNDP-Nepal, spoke to New Spotlight on various issues. Excerpts:

By SHOKO NODA

When Nepal was rocked by a 6.9 Richter scale earthquake last September, panic set in as devastation ran high. However, when the same magnitude earthquake hit Tokyo recently, there was no damage and human loss. How do you look at this?

I knew that there was an earthquake in Tokyo. We get the information about quakes immediately from Radio and Television. We were informed whether there would be Tsunami or not. Early warning system is a key issue to minimize the damage. Although the scale was high, looking at other countries, it was more or less normal for the Japanese people. There was no damage and casualty. We have a very good information system and preparedness. One of the major things is the level of preparedness in Japan. Japanese are educated from early childhood about earthquake and earthquake safety issues. Even I was taught from childhood on this. Every day, we were told to do some kind of preparedness exercise against earthquake. We organized memorial services about the disaster. From the age of six or seven, we were taught about the danger of national disasters. This is the reason there is always a low casualty.

As Nepal lies in an active seismic zone and it was rocked by major earthquakes in the past, with an earthquake last September, how do you see is the level of preparedness in Nepal to face an earthquake in future?

The government of Nepal is much prepared now compared to few years ago. The government has set up the National Emergency Operations Center (NEOC). After the last earthquake, UNDP also supported the establishment of local level centers. National Strategy for Disaster Risk Management has also been approved. The legislative environment is being prepared now. Of course, these are not enough and there are many steps to be taken.

There is the need to establish an operation center to cope with disasters. Secondly, there is the need to map the vulnerabilities. We need to look at all nine or ten storey buildings and other constructions whether they abide by building codes or not. It is not only the law and setting up the center but citizens also need to look at their own responsibilities. Citizens need to be sensitive about the possible damage caused by those buildings which were constructed violating building codes. These are the major initiatives taken by Nepal. If there is a high level of preparedness, the damage will be reduced.

Experts have already predicted that there will be massive devastations in case of a major earthquake in Nepal like that of 1934. How will international communities like UNDP support Nepal in such scenarios?

During that kind of major disaster, the international community will always play a major role. Whether in Haiti or in Pakistan, the international community came to launch rescue operation as well as rehabilitation program. In light of the situation, the international community also set up the consortium supporting the government. That consortium will also help to increase the level of awareness. International community continues to support during disasters. If the government is also in the driving seat, international community will back them. If there occurs a disaster, it becomes important to extend life saving, humanitarian assistance. We will be there before the government ownership.

As a leading international organization working in disaster preparedness what specific role can UNDP play?

UNDP has been working in different countries in similar activities. We don’t bring rescue operation equipments in a big way but we are in the process of capacity building of government agencies and we also support the government’s formulation of different laws and national strategy and public awareness.

Do you think Nepal’s current level of preparedness is adequate to face a major earthquake?

The central government is better prepared than before. But, we also need to think about the likely scenario of quake in Kathmandu which is itself a capital. Any major earthquake will likely affect Kathmandu. In that sense, if the central government is well prepared, it will help. If the central government is not well prepared, the consequences will be like that of Haiti. The rescue operation will be more difficult in Kathmandu because it does not have any port and it is landlocked. Land and air routes will be two options. In case of major earthquake in Kathmandu, India will also be affected. In that situation, Nepal’s road connectivity will also be disrupted. As there are high mountains in northern border, support from China will also be difficult. We need to think about decentralizing the capacity. In case of major earthquake in Kathmandu, we need to find out other cities from where we can start the operation. This applies not only to major earthquakes but even rescue operation here and there in different forms of disasters.

Nepalese officials including security agencies have been saying that they are ill prepared to launch the rescue operations. As a front line organization in rescue operation, what needs to be done to enhance their capabilities?

We often look at the equipment for rescue operation but rescue and rehabilitation are not only about equipments. They are also about trained specialists. We need to look at the capacity and those people will not only be concentrated in Kathmandu but they need to be sent in different districts. If you put all here, how can you send personnel outside when his or her family members face casualty?

You were here in the last earthquake, what is your observation about the level of awareness among Nepalis?

That was a wakeup call for all of us. I was surprised to see people rushing from one place to another. As a person from Japan, it was really strange to see various actions, nervousness of people. I saw all the people coming out of the houses. If the same case happened in Japan, people would have remained inside homes. That showed the level of preparedness and awareness. I don’t know how people will face more severe earthquakes. We need not panic in case of earthquakes. If we panic in such a situation, we don’t know what to do. There is the need to take more steps at school, community and government level. Everyone needs to take preparedness courses.

In her recent visit to Nepal, the administrator of the United Nations Development Program also stressed the need for Nepal to prepare for disasters like earthquake to minimize the loss?

UNDP’s administrator Helen Clark and Crown Prince Haakon Magnus also underscored the vulnerability of Kathmandu. Again, it is not only the preparedness from the government side but citizens also need to be vigilant. Kathmandu’s buildings have not fully respected the building codes. If you look at the wiring of telephone, electricity and construction things, all these add the vulnerabilities. The risk of earthquake in Nepal is very high. Nepal speaks so proud that it is fast mover of Human Development Index (HDI). In the past thirty years, Nepal has made a big progress and stands as a fastest mover. Nepal has made a bigger stride than other countries in health, life expectancy, gender, literacy and child health. That progress of thirty years can be destroyed just in one minute if a major earthquake damaged the country. This is such an important issue. We need to include risk reduction elements in our program and activities.

At a time when Nepal is celebrating National Earthquake Safety Day, Purushottam Ghimire, joint secretary and spokesperson of National Planning Commission, spoke on the role of National Planning Commission regarding the coordination efforts. Excerpts:

How do you see Nepal’s preparedness in earthquake? What role is the National Planning Commission is playing?

We are working to introduce long term and short term plans. We have already identified 22 open places in the valley to use as a temporary shelter in case of major earthquakes. So far as the capability to face the earthquake is concerned, Kathmandu valley is in a highly vulnerable and risky place and the country does not have the capability to face major quakes. It is a fact that buildings and infrastructure in the valley are not earthquake-resistant and overwhelming numbers of buildings were constructed without applying the building codes. In case of a major earthquake, the economic and human damage will be unrecoverable. It will have long term implications. This is the reason National Planning Commission is considering to look at the overall policy issues.

What is the economic cost?

The economic cost of earthquake will be very high, given Nepal’s preparedness. We have ignored the building codes and basic security things during the process of constructions. There are many houses which are on the verge of collapse. We need to protect the century old heritage sites and old houses in urban areas. We don’t have national policy about this. We need to have at least twenty or ten year’s long policy.

How can NPC play its role in bringing the public and private sectors together?

Under the home ministry, there is a disaster management committee which is responsible for execution and mobilization of necessary actions during natural disasters. There is no doubt that Home Ministry is the focal ministry in the course of rescue and rehabilitation. National Planning Commission is just considering playing a role as a coordinator among various ministries and donor communities to formulate the policy and plan. In the course of formulation of policy, coordination is lacking. Natural disaster involves various sectors and ministries. We are considering making a central coordination committee to deal with various line ministries. Our efforts will be to mainstream the planning and policies related to disasters.

What is the role of NPC in this?

National Planning Commission can only do the coordination and policy level work. So far as the implementation part is concerned, it is the role of Home Ministry which is responsible for all actions. Home Ministry has the various tools and the private sector has necessary resources. This is the reason there is the need to make coordination.

Chandi Shrestha

Former Home secretary Chandi Prasad Shrestha is a well known name in Nepal’s bureaucracy. Shrestha, chairman of JICA Alumni Association Forum of SAARC countries (JAAFSC) and immediate past president of JICA Alumni Association of Nepal (JAAN), is now president elect of Rotary Club Lalitpur mid-town. Having worked in disaster management during his tenure as Home secretary, Shrestha spoke to New Spotlight on various issues. Excerpts:

As a former home secretary and now member of one of the active social organizations like Rotary, how do you look at the level of preparedness for earthquakes in Kathmandu valley?

Along with the government, organizations like NSET have done a commendable job. During my tenure as a secretary of Home affairs, I had the opportunity to work with them. I really appreciate the dedication and commitment of NSET team. We need to boast about their good work. So far as other civil society organizations are concerned, I have not seen much in their working focused on earthquake. Of course, Nepal Red Cross Society, international non-governmental organizations and other local non-governmental organizations have been working in the area of disaster. We have to accept the fact that NSET is just for earthquake.

How about organizations like the Rotary International?

We are yet to start programs on earthquake preparedness and other such disasters. Rotary is now focusing on polio, education, drinking water, income generation and other service sector. Even my own club has never thought about earthquake disaster. We organize programs like blood donations and other such programs.

Since JICA has provided a lot of support during earthquakes, what about the role of JAAN?

During my tenure as the president of JAAN, we organized some programs with the NSET about the need to promote earthquake safety in Nepal. One of our members and former secretary engineer, Barun Prasad Shrestha, who is also member of NSET, helped to bring JAAN and NSET together.

How do you see the level of preparedness in general?

Frankly speaking, our level of preparedness is very low compared to the threat and risk of earthquake in the Kathmandu valley. I am also not satisfied with the role of organizations I have seen involved in the areas of earthquake risk reduction. Of course, problems in the areas like health, education, water and sanitation are much higher but we also need to give some attention to earthquakes and natural disasters.

As a former home secretary, how do you see the role of civilian authorities in managing disasters like earthquake?

The role of civilian authorities is important. The Ministry of Home at the center and Chief District Officer at the district level are the main civilian authorities to coordinate the works during the disaster. Similarly, officials at the District Development Committee, Municipalities and Village Development Committees up to ward level play a crucial role during disasters. Of course, security related agencies have the most important role in the rescue operation as they all are frontline agencies. It is security agency which set up the command post to launch effective relief and rescue operation but it is the civilian authority which is responsible for the management of command post. There is the need to create an awareness level from the grassroots about these works.

I see there is the need to start preparedness from the grassroots level. It is unfortunate that we have hardly done any drill in our area. As the risk of a major earthquake is there in Kathmandu Valley, we need to do some kind of a drill at least twice a year. I think this must start from the citizens level. Due to regular drills, Japanese citizens are really prepared.

How do you see the economic impacts of the quake?

We have hardly looked at them. Frankly speaking, it will have a devastating impact. For instance, a modern apartment in the valley reportedly cracked during the last September earthquake. Constructed just a couple of years ago with the estimation to face certain level of earthquake, the crack in that apartment building has already created a panicky situation among many people. Many others might have a similar fate. The last earthquake was just a wake up call. If the epicenter was closer, most of the houses would have collapsed in the valley. The economic impact will be unimaginable in case of a major earthquake in the valley. We need to take this possibility into account. Study reports have already suggested that more than 60 percent of the houses will be destroyed or partially destroyed. Frankly speaking, we are yet to give priority to earthquake.

How do you see the level of awareness regarding the quake?

The level of awareness has gone tremendously high. My concern is whether this awareness level is enough given the projected level of destruction by the earthquake. People are much concerned now about earthquake safety and taking some initiatives also. We know many bridges will collapse in the valley and it will disrupt the whole process of rescue work. We have to see the level preparedness at the hospitals. It is very sad that there is no open space. Most open space is encroached by various groups.

What is your impression about the preparedness taken by the other sectors?

Other sectors have also their own preparedness. In telecom sector, for instance, NCELL has a backup system in a couple of places out of Kathmandu and within Kathmandu. NCELL has backup system in Hetauda. There are regional centers in Biratnagar, Pokhara and Bhairahawa. If quake hits one center, others will back up. Similarly, many banks have already set up data back-up centers in one or two places in different destinations like in Biratnagar. This is a good beginning. We cannot stop the economic damage made by earthquake.

AMOD MANI DIXIT

Working as a government official in the aftermath of a major earthquake in Dharan in 1988, Amod Mani Dixit, Executive Director of National Society for Earthquake Technology-Nepal (NSET) realized there was a real need to do something from the non-governmental sector for earthquake safety in Nepal. A few years following the quake, Dixit left the government job at National Seismic Center and gathered some like minded people to set up NSET. It is now one of the largest non-governmental organizations working in the area of earthquake safety, not only in Nepal but around the world, offering its technical knowhow. When Dixit set up the NSET, nobody accepted the fact that the earthquakes did not kill people but unsafe buildings did. One can see a massive change in their perceptions now. Dixit spoke to KESHAB POUDEL on various issues related to earthquake. Excerpts:

People think that the earthquake brings devastation and kills people. How do you define an earthquake?

One universal truth is that earthquakes do not kill people but unsafe buildings and other constructions do. If your buildings and infrastructures are earthquake-resistant and constructed by complying with building codes and guidelines, you are safe. There is a often a havoc attached with earthquake. In reality, it cannot destroy or kill people by itself.

What are the economic implications of earthquakes?

Oh, it has major implications. If banks cannot operate for four days during the major earthquakes, the loss will be a lot. Similarly, the loss of insurance money will be much higher. The cost of the damage made by earthquake in star and non-star hotels will be high. If an earthquake of 8 Richter scale hit Seattle of US and Nepal, the two places might have to face different things. There will be a massive human casualty in Nepal and more economic damage in Seattle.

What was the loss like in the recent earthquake?

There was a huge loss in the recent earthquake. The recent quake also partially damaged community buildings like schools, health posts and village development community. Although the quake did not destroy many houses in the valley, it partially damaged many buildings, including the cultural and heritage sites of Kathmandu like the Basantapur Palace. Besides the human loss, NSET estimated that the economic damage of September earthquake is over 7 billion Rupees. This does not include the government property, bridges and other infrastructures. This is direct damage. We don’t know the indirect loss. According to government estimates, the country lost 4.5 billion rupees in the recent earthquake.

You have recently said that Nepal’s overall economy will badly suffer in case of major earthquakes. Even our insurance companies and banks will have to face severe financial crisis. Their data will be badly damaged and the buildings they are living will collapse. What solution do you have to make them safe?

I don’t have any doubt that in case there is a quake like that of 1990 B.S, everyone will be bankrupt. The earthquake of such Richter scale is overdue in the valley. If we don’t take early precautions and prepare, our financial system will be badly hit. Insurance companies and banks will be bankrupt. Even if houses are insured, the devastation will be such large that they will be unable to pay the insured amount. So far as bankers are concerned, they too are much vulnerable. Their data, servers, employees and buildings all are under risk. Even their investments are under risk.

How do you define safety?

There are the issues of in-house safety and investment security. As banks are investing a huge money in infrastructure like apartments, cars, roads, hydro projects, houses and other such areas, they must consider whether the buildings and infrastructures are earthquake-resistant or not before taking decision on investment. Similarly, they also need in-house safety or safety of their data and employees. For this they need to invest to make their places earthquake resistant.

Do you mean there will be a great risk?

If one or two houses are damaged, the banks can reimburse them or they can make a claim from insurance. If there is a hundred percent damage, how can they recover the debt? For instance, our projection is that there will be a damage to 60 percent houses in case of an 8 Richter scale quake.

How about other losses?

There will be irrevocable losses in cultural heritage, social capital or economic prospects. Can cultural and social relations remain similar after the quake? If the courtyard is destroyed in Itumbahal, everything will be destroyed. It will damage everything. We can limit the damage but what is required is to invest taking in mind earthquake safety. For the first time, we have been able to interact with bankers, insurers and others regarding this.

You have been saying this for more than two decades that Nepal in particular is highly sensitive to earthquakes. However, investors are constructing tall buildings and apartments haphazardly. What is your reaction?

I have not been saying that the construction of tall apartments is bad. There is the need more tall apartments in the valley. Now we are constructing apartments of up to 10 or 14 floors. If we can construct apartments of up to 25 floors, there is no harm at all. What is important is, whatever we construct, they should be adaptive to Nepal’s geography. As Nepal is seismically vulnerable, our construction must comply with building codes and guidelines.

How do you look at the apartments coming up here and there?

Buildings should be constructed looking at the conditions of their locations. You cannot construct a 15-storey building near Taleju temple or in the areas adjoining the banks of major rivers. The process of urbanization needs to be guided by land use policy keeping in mind the earthquake risk sensitivity. Buildings should be allowed in specific areas where the process of liquefaction is low. It is the job of the municipalities to develop the land use plan and construction should be made accordingly.

It is reported that after the recent quake, many people were hesitating to move to their apartments. Why was this?

It may be true. Naturally, everyone needs to be afraid of the way of construction of buildings. I have already told you that earthquakes do not kill people but unsafe buildings do. People might have realized that apartments are unsafe or they are constructed without following requirements of normal structural engineering practices. People need to be assured of their safety and security.

Most of the apartments are along the river banks like Balkumari, Sankhamul, Samakhushi and Jamshikhel. Do you think they are safe?

I agree with you that there is the need to be sensitive about the development. The government must regulate apartments. They should be earthquake-resistant. You have to use common sense. I would like to request the banks and insurance companies to use common sense before making decisions on investment. If the investments of the banks are hazardous, they should think about this. Banks should ensure that they will not invest in the housing sector, if that is hazardous.

How was your recent interaction with the banks and financial institutions?
It was a good start. I found that they are aware of the safety issue. What we need to do now is to change our mindset that the government is the doer and others are the watchers and promoters. Actually, this is not true. Doers are those who really do things. It is their responsibility to see what they do is secure. If they invest a little money, the bankers can make themselves safe. Disaster reduction is not a costly affair. It is a one-time investment. If you are smart, you need to look into long term investment.

What is the message of Earthquake Safety Day?

We will evaluate what happened to last 364 days and try to formulate the programs for what we can do in future. Earthquake Safety Day is not there to start and to do something new. It is the day to think about the new technology and safety during earthquakes. The day is for reaffirmation of collective work, commitments to prepare for the future shock. Every next time, the earthquake day brings more people. We have been targeting the common people since its inception where we can share the possible scenario of the valley and what can we do to cope with the situation. We have targeted the government in the last five years in the areas like emergency services. Our focus was Nepal Army, Armed Police Force and Nepal Police to demonstrate collectively in emergency preparedness.
What Nepal needs is a secure development. What Nepal desires is a risk free development.

If there is a major quake in Kathmandu, we will lose our cultural heritage and such important sites. People rebuilt the 55-windows palace of Bhaktapur because there were artisans and other workers available. If a quake destroys the palace, can the country afford to reconstruct it again? The latest quake even partially destroyed Basantapur Palace. Old Pagoda buildings remained intact but the new white places were partially damaged. The government has already set up a committee to look into this.

The issue raised by you that Nepal is earthquake sensitive has become the national agenda now. How do you view this change?

This is a phenomenal success. Fifteen years ago we were solitary singers. Now thousands of people are singing the song. The government has also started singing it. The private sector is also coming to take part in the same orchestra. Over the years, the awareness level has increased tremendously.

How is the demand for earthquake safety?

Demands are coming from schools, hospitals, municipalities, wards and private entrepreneurs. All of them want earthquake safety measures. I am happy that the demand has been created and it has increased a lot. On supply side, we have not been able to do so much for them. I can say that there has been qualitative change.

Is there any change in the construction method?

There is a fundamental change in the construction side. What I can say now is that building construction in the Kathmandu valley is getting better. Of course, it is still not up to the mark or up to our satisfaction level but what I can see is a fundamental change in thinking. We have already trained 5,000 masons as well as other low skilled manpower who know how to construct earthquake safe buildings.

What do you say of the achievements?

The problem is that Kathmandu is building too many houses - approximately 10,000 buildings are added per year. This means all the masons are not able to cater to these demands. Still there have been tremendous accomplishments. As former UN secretary general Kofi Annan said the indicators of risk reduction are only intangible. You always count the number of deaths but not the number of those who survive. Risk reduction means to save the vulnerable construction and vulnerable people. One needs to feel what risk reduction is all about.