What is the government’s long-term plan to stop the inundation of Maitighar?
लगानी न्यूज
. The problem of inundation in Maitighar Mandala area, which is considered the centre of the capital, has been recurring for years even when there is normal rainfall. Members of the general public as well as VIPs have been affected by the waterlogging of main roads leading to Singha Durbar, Supreme Court, different ministries and diplomatic missions.
{{TAG_OPEN_div_102} When the road is flooded even in normal rainfall, there is a problem of pedestrian and vehicular movement, traffic jam and the risk of road accidents. The problem of inundation is increasing every year due to lack of concrete initiatives and policies to solve the problem in the long term.
Acting Mayor of Kathmandu Metropolitan City, Sunita Dangol, said separate pipe systems would be constructed in Maitigharmandala area for sewerage and rainwater drainage to solve the problem of inundation that recurs during the rainy season.TAG_OPEN_div_100
He said that the drainage system is not able to bear the load when there is more rainfall than normal as sewerage and rainwater flow through the same system in most of the places at present.TAG_OPEN_div_98 Saying the metropolis has been taking initiatives to resolve the immediate and long-term problems to remove such problems, he pointed out the need of carrying out works by making a master plan.
The study has shown that the main reasons for the inundation at Maitighar are the old and narrow drainage system, rainwater and sewerage systems, uncontrolled urbanization and encroachment on sewerage.TAG_OPEN_div_96 Experts have said that the problem of inundation is getting worse as the existing infrastructure is unable to handle the pressure of water as the excessive rainfall in a short period of time due to climate change is increasing.
Voices have been raised in the Federal Parliament time and again regarding this problem. Speaking in the meeting of the House of Representatives, lawmaker Ranju Neupane (Darshana) drew the attention of the government to implement effective plan for permanent solution, saying inundation problem at Maitighar could not be stopped only by the immediate management.
Chief Executive Officer of the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority (NDRRMA), Dr Dharma Raj Upreti said the problem of inundation would be resolved within a few days.TAG_OPEN_div_92 “Every year, with the onset of monsoon, Maitighar is inundated. This has caused unnecessary hardship to businessmen, drivers and the general public. Now, we need to find a long-term solution, not just temporary,” he said.
Meanwhile, Kathmandu Metropolitan City, Road Division Kathmandu and Kathmandu Upatyaka Khanepani Limited (KUDML) have started coordination under the coordination of National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority (NDRRMA) for improving the drainage management in the Kathmandu Valley including Maitighar.TAG_OPEN_div_89
The concerned bodies have approved short-term, mid-term and long-term action plans and started the implementation process. A report has already been submitted identifying the obstructions, encroachments and other problems in the drainage system in the inundation-affected areas including Maitighar.
What’s in the study report?
The report of the technical committee formed to identify the problem of inundation in Maitighar and other areas including Maitighar and the problem related to drainage in the Kathmandu Valley has pointed out that the main reason for the recurrence of inundation in the areas around Maitighar Chowk during the rainy season is the destruction of the area where water accumulates naturally.TAG_OPEN_div_84 The technical study also shows that there are unsystematic urbanization, limited capacity of the sewerage system and weaknesses in the drainage management.
} The report has concluded that the construction works that have been contrary to the urban plan for a long time, obstruction of natural water flow and poor management of the drainage system. “Over the past few years, the situation of waterlogging in and around Singha Durbar and surrounding areas has been recurring and the regular functioning of government offices has also been affected,” the report states, adding that the biggest problem is the loss of water logging area in and around Singha Durbar. ”
NRA under-secretary Ram Bahadur KC said that the capacity to absorb water has decreased due to the construction of buildings, roads, parking lots and other physical infrastructures.TAG_OPEN_div_80 “As soon as it rains, a large amount of water flows into the road and sewerage system at once,” he said, adding that the risk of inundation has increased due to lack of natural water storage area. ”
The report concludes that due to the weakening of the system of water accumulation and slow drainage, there is a situation of excessive water entering the sewerage system at once during the rainy season.TAG_OPEN_div_78
The report also considers unplanned land use and encroachment as another major cause of inundation. The natural route of water has been obstructed due to the construction of structures in areas where natural water flows and on open land. Similarly, expansion of concrete, blacktopped roads and other impervious surfaces has reduced the capacity to hold water in the ground and increased the amount of water flowing from the surface, the report states. Structural weakness in the drainage system has also been cited as a major cause of inundation.
According to the report, in some places, the rainwater drainage system and the domestic wastewater drainage system are being operated through the same main pipe.TAG_OPEN_div_74 During the rainy season, when both types of water mix in the same pipe, there is a situation of more water flowing than the capacity of the pipe. As a result, the pressure inside the pipe increases, the flow of water slows down and the water comes out of the manhole, according to the report.
TAG_OPEN_div_72 The study also identified bottleneck problems in the sewer system. The report states that in some places, the flow of water is obstructed due to the large diameter pipes being connected to the small diameter pipes. The study concluded that such structural weaknesses increase inundation by creating additional pressure on the sewerage system during the rainy season.
Another TAG_OPEN_div_70 reason for the inundation is the ‘backwater effect’ seen in the drainage system connected to the Tukucha River, according to the report. According to the study, when the water level rises in the river or main outlet, its pressure returns to the sewerage system and the water comes out of the manhole. This will make inundation in Singha Durbar area worse, especially during heavy rains, the report states.
The
report also considers the lack of institutional coordination as an important aspect of the problem. The report states that due to lack of adequate coordination among various bodies involved in the construction of sewerage, roads, buildings and other infrastructures, different bodies work separately in the same area, which will make the problem more complicated than the long-term solution.
The report recommends both short-term and long-term measures to control inundation.TAG_OPEN_div_66 The committee also suggested developing a delayed discharge system that collects rainwater for some time and gradually extracts it, construct underground water storage tank and prioritise conservation of the natural areas where water accumulates. This will reduce the pressure of water in the sewer system and reduce the risk of inundation, the report concluded.
The report also includes suggestions to develop separate drainage systems for rainwater and domestic wastewater, construct new storm drains in necessary places and reassess and improve the capacity of old sewerage.TAG_OPEN_div_64
The report also recommends regular maintenance of the drainage system, cleaning of sewers and culverts, increasing the size of pipes where necessary, and installation of non-return check valves or flap gates to prevent water from returning to the outfall area.TAG_OPEN_div_62 It also states that the drainage structure should be redesigned taking into account the size of the catchment area, the recurrence period of rainfall and the maximum possible flow.
TAG_OPEN_div_60 The report has concluded that the problem of inundation in Singha Durbar area cannot be solved only through immediate repair and sanitation. The report has pointed out that long-term solution is possible only when there is conservation of natural water systems, scientific urban planning, adequate capacity drainage infrastructure and effective coordination among the concerned bodies.
Here are the long-term and medium-term plans
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Under TAG_OPEN_div_57}} Under Secretary KC said that under the mid-term plan, old and narrow drainage pipes would be studied and large size pipes would be installed or alternative drains would be constructed at the required places. According to him, a detailed master plan would be prepared and implemented separately for the management of storm water and sanitation water under the long-term plan.
“Likewise, a legal provision to make rainwater harvesting and sewage treatment system mandatory in new big government and commercial buildings will be enforced,” KC said.TAG_OPEN_div_55 ”
Prabhat Shrestha, information officer of the Project Implementation Directorate (PID) under Kathmandu Upatyaka Khanepani Limited (KUKL), said that the sewerage management around Maitighar, New Plaza and Singha Durbar needs to be improved in an integrated manner.TAG_OPEN_div_53
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