Urban Floods and Mismanagement: The Urgent Need for Action and Collaboration in Nepal
Nepal just experienced an unprecedented bout of heavy rainfall, causing widespread devastation across the country. Hundreds of lives have been tragically lost, and the financial cost of the damage runs into millions. While Nepal has always been prone to natural disasters, the sheer scale of this rainfall and its aftermath is something that the country has not faced in over 50 years. However, what is becoming increasingly clear is that the catastrophe is not solely due to the natural event itself, but rather due to mismanagement, particularly in urban flood control systems.
Cities like Kathmandu, which were once thought to be relatively prepared in case of disasters, are facing the consequences of decades of poor urban planning. The flooding in the capital and other urban centers exposes the lack of preparedness for managing heavy rainfall, especially in the context of a rapidly urbanizing country. While the narrative that encroachment along riverbanks is the sole reason for these floods is gaining traction, it only paints a partial picture of the problem.
The Misleading Narrative of River Encroachment
It is true that many settlements in Nepal have developed close to rivers. However, this has always been the case in human history. Some of the world’s greatest cities, from London to Paris to Cairo, have developed along the banks of major rivers. Riverbank settlements are not inherently problematic; they can thrive and coexist with nature when managed well. The idea that urban flooding in Nepal is solely due to river encroachment is overly simplistic.
The problem lies not in the proximity of settlements to rivers but in the lack of proper urban planning and flood management infrastructure. Real estate is a precious resource, and while we must be mindful of the environment, utilizing riverbank land for development can still be sustainable. The key is ensuring that cities are designed with resilient infrastructure that mitigates the risk of urban flooding, even in the face of record rainfall.
Global Examples: Urban Flood Management
Many cities around the world are located near rivers yet manage to prevent catastrophic flooding. Cities like New York, London, and Dubai have faced severe rainfall, and yet they are not crippled by floods to the same extent as Kathmandu. What separates these cities from Kathmandu is not their geographic location but their proactive investment in functional urban drainage systems and flood prevention measures.
These cities understand that urban flooding is inevitable, especially with the increased frequency of extreme weather events due to climate change. Rather than using river encroachment as a scapegoat, they invest in strong drainage systems, flood barriers, and floodplain management to minimize damage. Floods happen even in cities without rivers, such as Dubai, which experiences flash floods due to inadequate drainage systems. The solution lies in being prepared to manage the floodwaters rather than pointing fingers at the settlements along rivers.
The Urgent Need for Urban Drainage Systems
Kathmandu’s experience in recent days reveals a critical flaw: the city is woefully underprepared when it comes to floodwater management. There is a dire need for a comprehensive, functional urban drainage system that can handle heavy rainfall. Without such a system, floods will continue to wreak havoc in the capital, causing immense damage to property, infrastructure, and human life. While it is impossible to prevent all disruptions caused by extreme weather, a robust system can dramatically reduce the level of destruction.
Developed cities understand that floods will occur, but their focus is on damage control, ensuring that water can be drained efficiently and that the city's infrastructure can withstand such events. Nepal must adopt this mindset and prioritize flood-resilient urban planning if it hopes to prevent future disasters.
The Shortcomings of NDRRMA and NEOC
The recent rains have also laid bare the glaring weaknesses in Nepal’s disaster response framework. Both the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority (NDRRMA) and the National Emergency Operation Center (NEOC) of the Ministry of Home Affairs were exposed as being unprepared for the scale of this disaster. Despite years of seminars, conferences, and videos promoting disaster awareness, their actual response to this crisis was alarmingly inadequate.
It is evident that NDRRMA, in particular, is more focused on organizing awareness programs and conducting meetings rather than actively building the systems needed to tackle real-world disasters. Despite having access to resources and expertise, they have not shown a genuine interest in developing a robust emergency response system. Furthermore, their reluctance to collaborate with institutes that possess the necessary expertise, such as the Institute of Crisis Management Studies (ICMS), raises serious concerns about their commitment to protecting the public.
The Potential of Partnership with ICMS
Institute of Crisis Management Studies (ICMS) is home to many trained crisis management professionals who are eager and ready to contribute their expertise in times of crisis. The institute has the capacity to work in collaboration with the government to develop better disaster response systems, but NDRRMA has consistently turned a deaf ear to calls for institutional collaboration.
While it is understandable that governmental agencies have their protocols and processes, their unwillingness to partner with local institutions, which can bring knowledge and support, is detrimental to the nation's disaster preparedness efforts. The emphasis on international donors and high-profile meetings suggests that monetary incentives, travel allowances, and external validation are prioritized over genuine partnerships that could strengthen the country’s crisis response systems. This is a critical oversight that must be addressed if Nepal is to protect its citizens from future disasters.
A Call for Action
It is time for Nepal’s government to stop making excuses and start investing in solutions. The loss of life, destruction of property, and the suffering caused by this recent flooding are unacceptable. The government must take immediate steps to overhaul its urban planning processes, invest in proper drainage systems, and develop robust flood management infrastructure in cities across the country. Furthermore, NDRRMA must shift its focus from mere awareness programs and meetings to real, actionable initiatives that can prevent such disasters in the future. They must engage with local institutions like ICMS, whose expertise could be invaluable in developing effective crisis management strategies.
While we express our heartfelt condolences to the families who have lost loved ones in this tragedy, we must also demand accountability and action from the authorities. Urban flooding is not inevitable—it is preventable. But preventing it requires a commitment to proper planning, investment in infrastructure, and a willingness to collaborate with the right partners. Only then can we ensure that the devastation we have witnessed in recent days is not repeated in the future.
(Note: The article is based on Interview with Dr. Kishor Adhikari, Campus Chief of ICMS Samarpan Academy by our Staff Writer)