Razen Manandhar

Kathmandu, January 15

The Kathmandu Valley will be witness tomorrow to another rally — read pep talk — to raise awareness to protect against earthquake hazards. This time, the event will serve to remind citizens of the strong earthquake that had hit the Valley exactly 36 years ago.

However, nobody seems interested to address the loopholes that help people construct illegal houses in the densely populated city. Nor does any government agency seems to be any hurry to control the rapidly disappearing open public spaces in the city.

"Out of around 3,500 houses being constructed every year, one third are illegal — either the building permission had been obtained illegally or the buildings are constructed in a way different from what the authorities had approved," admits an official at the Urban Development Department of Kathamndu Metropolitan City, adding only if the existing rules are implemented, the post-hazard destructions of earthquakes could be lessened.

"Each of the illegal houses tells a story of bribery. The KMC should destroy all such houses before delivering speeches on earthquake hazards," he said.

According to a report published by the National Society for Earthquake Technologies Nepal (NSET-N), 40,000 people will die, 95,000 people will be injured, 600,000 people will be homeless and 60 per cent of the houses will be damanged completely, if an earthquke similar to that in 1934, were to hit the Valley again. Such a quake will also damage 95 per cent of water distribution lines, 40 per cent of the electricity distribution system and 60 per cent of the telecomunication network.

Experts say the destruction will mostly affect major cities like Kathmandu, where tall houses are built on small ground coverage, and without leaving proper open spaces around. "More than the earthquake itself, the haphazardly built houses are dangerous. The earthquake may not kill people but the houses, sure to collapse in the case of quakes, will raise the death toll," Shiva B Pradhananga, the chairman of the NSET-N, said.

Senior urban planner Bharat Sharma, former deputy director general of Department of Urban Development, said the government itself has played a role in increasing the hazards by neglecting the vital points. "What can you do if the government itself neglects the code of conduct and closes its eyes to the encroachment?" he said, adding only a fresh, big earthquake would teach the corrupt officials a lesson. "The whole city will collapse like a pack of cards and the officials will realise what they should have done".