Experts suggest increased investment in urban infra
KATHMANDU, NOV 12 - Stakeholders have said infrastructure development without social and environment impact assessment has led to haphazard urbanization.
Speaking at the first “Nepal Infrastructure Summit 2014” being organised by the Confederation of Nepalese Industries in Kathmandu on Tuesday, they suggested increased investment in urban infrastructure.
“The present infrastructure development patterns in most of the municipalities show environmental and social impacts have not been considered,” said Saroj Basnet, general secretary at the Society of Consulting Architects and Engineering Firms. “As a result, agriculture land and forest areas have been fast depleting.”
Basnet warned there would be no agriculture land in city areas by 2050 if the current trend continues. he said poor implementation of urban development policies due to weak coordination between government agencies has resulted in unbalanced urbanisation. “As a result, the number of urban poor has been rising at a faster pace.”
The participants criticised the government for low investment particularly in waste and sewage management and drinking water in urban areas. “At a time when investment of over Rs400 billion is required for sewage and waste management and drinking water supply, the government has been investing a mere Rs 5 billion,” said Sushil Gyawali, executive director at the Town Development Fund.
Gyawali stressed on the need for increasing private sector investment for proper management of wastes and drinking water. “Legal frameworks and regulatory mechanisms have to be developed to assure the private sector about returns on their investment,” he said.
Sajha Yatayat Chairman Kanak Mani Dixit urged the government to develop people-friendly urban infrastructure. Underscoring the need for increasing investment in the public transport service in city areas, he said urban infrastructure should solve people’s problems.
Government officials said the government has started work on ensuring proper utilisation of public places inside the Valley. Yogeshwar Krishna Parajuli, Development Commissioner at Kathmandu Valley Development Authority, said the government plans to launch an integrated project on developing infrastructure mainly for easy mass transportation.
Speaking at a separate session, Swarnim Wagle, member of the National Planning Commission, said resource crunch has been a major bottleneck for infrastructure development.
“There is a chronic shortage of investment in road construction, electricity and telecommunications, which are considered key inputs of economic development.”
Krishna Gyawali, former industry secretary, said the private sector’s investment in infrastructure could rise if the government focused on project management and policy implementation in an effective way.
Source: The Kathmandu Post
