Kathmandu, September 13
Kathmandu Metropolitan City is set to launch the ‘Recharge Kathmandu’ campaign to reduce the growing risk of urban flash floods in the capital.
The campaign aims to collect rainwater, recharge groundwater and promote better management of rainwater in the city.
Speaking at an event marking the 34th anniversary of the Kathmandu Metropolitan City Police Force on Sunday, Acting Mayor Sunita Dangol said the city was seeking long-term solutions to the increasing risk of flooding, noting that even relatively light rainfall can now cause flooding in Kathmandu.
“Three decades ago, unplanned development and construction in urban areas created the conditions for what we now call urban flash floods,” Dangol said. “In the past, we could sleep peacefully when it rained, but now we cannot sleep without worrying when rainfall begins.”
She said municipal police, disaster management teams and elected representatives often have to remain on standby to respond to emergencies, including during the night.
The metropolitan city is conducting studies on long-term measures to address urban flooding. However, Dangol said the city would not wait for the completion of the studies and would begin implementing measures that can be taken immediately.
Under the campaign, priority will be given to collecting rainwater, recharging groundwater and managing water resources effectively. The city aims to make Kathmandu safer and better prepared for flooding by starting with measures that can be implemented immediately.
