{"id":13933,"date":"2018-07-13T11:41:43","date_gmt":"2018-07-13T05:56:43","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/dorjegurung.com\/blog\/?p=13933"},"modified":"2026-03-13T22:03:23","modified_gmt":"2026-03-13T22:03:23","slug":"something-is-still-rotten-in-the-city-of-kathmandu","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.dorjegurung.com\/blog\/2018\/07\/something-is-still-rotten-in-the-city-of-kathmandu\/","title":{"rendered":"Something (is still) Rotten in The City of Kathmandu"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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1. in March 1998, I did a series of commentaries bemoaning d lack of proper #sewage<\/a> treatment system in #Kathmandu<\/a>. https:\/\/t.co\/xBecuP7LgF<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2014 Dorje Gurung (@Dorje_sDooing) March 30, 2017<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Follow the link in the tweet for a short history of the efforts into fixing that problem<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In 2009, National Trust for Nature Conservation (NTNC) published the Bagmati Action Plan (2009-2014)<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The action plan covered more than just Bagmatic river itself of course. “The Bagmati river system includes seven tributaries – Bagmati, Bishnumati, Dhobikhola (Rudramati), Manahara, Nakkhu, Balkhu and Tukucha (Ichhumati) rivers and the five sub-tributaries Godavari, Hanumate, Sangla, Mahadev and Kodku Khola The issues related to the Bagmati river and its tributaries are more or less of similar nature. Decrease in water discharge.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The executive summary states, “[a]ction to be undertaken for managing waste is one of the most challenging tasks in developing this plan. Conventional waste water management system recommended by previous projects is still valid for city core (Zone 4). Therefore, actions recommended for managing waste water for these areas are mainly based on the same technology with some modification in some cases. The action plan has recommended DEWATS as a new approach to manage waste water, especially for Zones 2 and 3.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And yet, in an Op-ed published in October 2013, Davies, a MSc Urban Management graduate from Berlin Technical University, says the municipality has NOT followed through with the NTNC’s recommendation of setting up DEWATS.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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2. Even after 15 yrs. not much appears to have changed in Kathmandu as the following 2013 op-ed attests! https:\/\/t.co\/hSucvgN6V3<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2014 Dorje Gurung (@Dorje_sDooing) March 30, 2017<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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3. In 2013, as when I hosted the radio shows in the late 90’s, all wastewater was discharged directly into the rivers with no treatment. pic.twitter.com\/97YzgTsQyI<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2014 Dorje Gurung (@Dorje_sDooing) March 30, 2017<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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4. The main reason: Corruption! Decision makers won’t approve of decentralization because that would mean letting go of a cash cow! \/ pic.twitter.com\/WYdQoLaceQ<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2014 Dorje Gurung (@Dorje_sDooing) March 30, 2017<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In other words, greed!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In a conversation with me in the winter of 2016-17, Davies confirmed her findings and my suspicion that next to nothing might have been done with the management of waste water in the valley! That winter, I had come across, on the Northern end of the city, two open ducts emptying their contents directly into the Bishnumati river. Here is a video of it taken the morning of December 1, 2017.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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