KATHMANDU: Has the Kathmandu valley turned into a concrete jungle as many architects, engineers and even common people think? There is a planning in this complicated affair and a solution does not seem in the sight for next many years.

However, Peps Cola township remains one of the most well-planned and well-managed townships in the valley. Many architects admit to this fact that the Pepsi Cola township, which covers an area of about 395 hector and houses 4,000 families is one of the best planned areas within the valley.

During the initial phase of the planning, the Kathmandu Valley Town Development Committee (KVTDC) took about 800 ropanies of land for plotting from the local people and the named project as Sinamangal Land Unification project. The project included 135 roads within the area.

Every house has been built by following the existing building bylaws. The planning initiatives were taken during when Keshav Sthapit was the Mayor. The township boasts of a sensible planning for a township within the valley, where civic amenities like electricity, road, water have been provided in commensurate measure. This shines as an example of planned development within and outside the valley.

Architects and engineers say the only way to prevent Kathmandu from turning into a concrete jungle is to implement planning bylaws for both the new and the already existed township.

“It is very difficult to plan for an entire existing township. The centre of such a township is usually densely populated and therefore it is difficult to implement the planing bylaws.” said architect, Supreme Shrestha of Department of Urban Development & Building Construction (DUDBC), who started his career with his designing of Nachghar Complex.

One of the major reasons for a shoddy implementation of the planning bylaws is lack of monitoring agencies. Planning permit is provided after a careful investigation into a fresh proposal by the KVTDC.

However, due to lack of adequate manpower, the agencies entrusted to investigate a proposal and ensure a strict implementation of planning bylaws, could not continue to do so.

“There are only two officers at DUDBC who have been monitoring the buildings, apartments and other structures to see if they have been indeed built as purposed,” informed Rajendra Khatiwada, an architect at DUDBC, who is one of the two officers.

He added that it is very difficult to visit each construction site as there are too many buildings under construction for two people to monitor and ensure adherence to relevant rules and regulations.

Engineer Kaurna Ratna Tuladhar of the KVTDC and a senior officer at DUDBC said, "The planning has to be done by studying the need of local people. Then only, the planning can be properly executed,” he said.

Participation of people is a must and field study of every site has to be undertaken with respect to designing and construction plan, Tuladhar said.

source:The Himalayan Times(2010-06-16 )