International Journal of Geography and Regional Planning IJGRP Vol. 7(1), pp. 200-209, January, 2021. © www.premierpublishers.org. ISSN: 2021-6009

Research Article

Urban Form and Land use Transformations in the High Mountain Town of (Bajura)

Dr. Kedar Dahal Department of Geography, Tri-Chandra Multiple Campus, , , NEPAL Email: [email protected]

Martadi, a small high mountain town has been transforming into a semi-urban position in recent years. This paper examines the form and land-use transformations by analyzing existing conditions and their potential expansion by collecting primary and secondary data through field observation and consultations/interactions with locals and analyzing the historical images/maps of the area. This paper shows that the high mountain town grew spatially and functionally outward from its core area transforming its morphology. Increasing population, increasing constructional activities, and infrastructure development in pace with urbanization are the reasons to get the transformations of such towns. With increasing local and regional connectivity, increasing trend of new building construction and reshaping of traditional buildings into modern ones, the rapid outward expansion of the town, increasing road networks and other facilities may lead to urban transformation of such high mountain towns in the future. Several modern constructions have been observed and Martadi is becoming one of the centers of economic activities in the region. Rapid conversion of agriculture, barren, and bushland into residential and the construction of infrastructure found high to make the urban transformation. The town can grow further in the future through intervention planning policies and guidelines.

Keywords: High mountain, town, urban form, land use, building morphology, transformation

INTRODUCTION

Urbanization is a good indicator of economic development municipal town in Nepal) are yet to be assessed (Shrestha in the country and the level of urbanization has and Rijal, 2015); and these scenarios of the increasing considerably increased in the last four decades in Nepal number of urban centers (municipalities) and people living (Shrestha and Rijal, 2015), and it has the practice to in them does not mean that the country has accelerated analyze urban and or urbanization in terms of the number rate of economic development through the transformation of municipalities and people living in them. In this respect, of agriculture economy into manufacturing and services. about 63 percent of people are living in the urban area Even though, these urban centers and towns are expected (what we called municipalities) in 293 municipalities in to serve as hubs to provide markets for goods and services Nepal (Central Bureau of Statistics-CBS, 2011). Rapid and improved living conditions and employment for the urbanization indicates a country’s economy in its dwellers as well as those in the surrounding localities developing stage towards a modernized and a matured (Devkota, 2018). Many cities in developing countries are one, with a regulating plan for urbanization, avoids frequently suffering from insufficient planning and imbalanced distribution of manpower and uneven management (Barros and Sobreira, 2005), and many development across the country (Kone, 2018). However, areas in these countries have unplanned development the present scenarios in the context of urbanization (Kufferand Barros, 2011). There are different forms of (through the incorporated large number of places as a urbanization and development patterns in the different

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geographical regions of Nepal. Generally, terai and valley country (Shrestha and Rijal, 2017); Therefore, the efficient towns have been posing more agglomerated towns as distribution of service facilities is becoming a challenging compared to mountain towns/settlements in Nepal. issue.

Chidi (2009) attempted to identify human settlements in Farrant (2007, cited in Sogoni and Ngidi, 2016) argued that the high mountain of Nepal based on settlement size and to a large extent spatial analysis had been absent from elevation and found that the number and size of the most social and infrastructure planning. Most of the newly settlements are constantly decreased with increasing emerging municipalities and towns in Nepal are still facing altitude, and most of those settlements are found at the difficulties in implementing their plans and policies due to altitudinal zone ranging from 3000-4500 meters from the a lack of technical resources and proper implementing mean sea level. Martadi, the district headquarters of mechanisms. Integrated Urban Development Plan Bajura, is one of the major settlements located in the high (IUDP), and other periodic plans prepared by the mountain region of Nepal. After the designation of Department of Urban Development and Building municipal status, Martadi has undergone rapid change in Construction (DUDBC) and the municipalities in the past, land use by increasing in-migration from the rural and therefore are not well implemented in the ground Plan ridge-top to lower river valleys. This process has resulted implementation in the high mountain towns/settlements in rapid infrastructure development, population are still in infancy stages as these towns are lacking a concentration, and service facilities which are often minimum urban infrastructure. More importantly, the lack referred to as transformation development (Jianchao, of infrastructure in these settlements which are lying at Xinge, Qinqin, and Nan, 2015). In this process, traditional higher altitudes is challenging for the development and villages and building units have been reshaped into planning of human settlement (Chidi, 2009). modern ones by increasing the use of modern constructional materials e.g. iron, cement, brick, etc. and One of the crucial challenges in the planning and attractive building design incorporating the essence of development of human settlements in Nepal is the lack of Vastu-sastra (traditional Indian system of architecture); baseline information of those settlements particularly lying which ultimately has changed morphological in the high altitude. Martadi (Bajura) has no exception to characteristics of Martadi. Therefore, being a high this. However, DUDBC has been studying different forms mountain town, rural urbanization and related processes and patterns of settlements and their morphology in the have brought a significant change in land use pattern and high mountain region including the Bajhang, Bajura, ultimately in its morphological features of Martadi Bazaar Darchula, Baitadi, Achham, , Jajarkot, Kalikot, Mugu, area. Sankhuwasabha, Sindhupalchowk, Taplejung, Solukhumbu, etc. Compact settlement plan, integrated The term ‘morphology’ was used to study the human settlement plan, morphological studies are some of the settlements or form of the Earth's surface in geography initiatives of DUDBC for settlement level study in the (Bansal, 2010 cited in Bista, 2016). It represents the outer Himalayan region. Recently, DUDBC completed a appearance of an urban center and interprets how it looks morphological study of Martadi, Syafrubensi, Lukla, (Bista, 2016). Morphology of towns has been identified on Simikot, and Jomsom which has focused on how the basis of various factors such as location, sites and settlement morphology could be retained and the situation of the town, landform, trade and transportation, sustainability of the Himalayan settlements (DUDBC, communication and industries, service delivery, and 2019). With reference to those studies, this paper explores administrative centers (Chidi, 2009; Sogoni and Ngidi, how urban form and morphological transformation of the 2016). Such studies have been an important input to the high mountain town, Martadi is taking its pace in the urban creation of a planning application guide which is designed development context in Nepal. to assist planners in planning for service delivery and addressing any morphological challenges (Sogoni and MATERIALS AND METHODS Ngidi, 2016). Therefore, morphology should be tied-up with service delivery and municipal planning. Despite the This paper is the outcome of both primary and secondary indicated in the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) in data collected in 2019. A field study was conducted to 2015, many governments in developing countries fail to locate existing infrastructures, services and facilities, and cope with effective service delivery by several issues to observe how settlement development is taking its pace. relating to corruption, technical know-how, lack of effective Primary data related to land use, the extent of the road policies and geographical distancing, and so on (Sogoni network, and the environment were collected by using a and Ngidi 2016; Wild et al., 2012). Therefore, providing checklist and questionnaire. Site observation and services to these areas seems to be economically interactions with locals were conducted to collect data challenging, due to sparse settlement and high cost of related to land-use change, trends of settlement infrastructure and service delivery. Many municipalities for development, housing materials, urban development example in Nepal, are rural, and the agricultural labour patterns, and urban morphological transformation. One- force constitute to be dominant in smaller towns in the week fieldwork was done to get insights on the field for

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primary data collection through the intensive fieldwork. Study Area During the fieldwork, participatory interactions with locals were adopted to collect the information. Similarly, a review Martadi is a town in the high mountain region and a district of the literature about the produced reports and documents headquarter of in the Far-west province of relating to settlement development and transformation, Nepal (Figure 1). It lies in municipality, which norms, and standards has also been conducted. was declared a municipality in December 2014, consisting Integrated Settlement Development Concept Paper total population of 16,898 and spread over 276 sq. km. (DUDBC, 2015), National Settlement Plan (2014), Martadi has located 57 km from Safebagar (Achham) and Planning norms and standards (DUDBC, 2013), IUDP of about 950 km west from Kathmandu, and can also be Badimalaika municipality (DUDBC, 2029), Badimalika reached via 40 minutes flight from Nepalgunj- airport Municipality (2015 and 2016) have also been reviewed in and then walking to Martadi. the due process of the study. Available maps, archive Google Earth images of the years 2008, 2014, 2015, and Rara-Khaptad trail is among the Trans-Himalaya trails of 2017 were used to see the land-use change and Nepal with Martadi as the intermediate point. Khaptad transformation. Similarly, available photographs have also National Park, Rara Lake, and magnificent views of been used to interpret the urban forms and morphological mountains, various flora and fauna and landscape are transformation of the town. attracted national and international tourists. Martadi is located on the Trans-Himalaya trail (Rara-Khaptad trail), located about 1553 meters mean sea level.

Figure 1: Location of Martadi, Bajura

Bajura District

Nepal

RESULT AND DISCUSSION municipality is 60.93 persons per sq. km. It is calculated that the average annual population growth rate is Population and Density 0.482percent. If the growth rate remains the same, the population of the study area will be 17,731 in 2081, 18,250 Badimalika Municipality has a total population of 16,818 in 2086, and 18,694 in 2091. The population of Martadi out of which 51.47percent is male and 48.53percent is area was 8807 (about 53percent of Badimalika female with an average household size of 4.88 (CBS, municipality) (CBS, 2011), which possesses mostly rural 2011), and the lowest human development index (0.364) characteristics with poor infrastructure. However, with the as compared to an urban area (0.579) and the national implementation of morphological retainment and level (0.490) (UNDP, 2014). The population density of the enhancement, and infrastructure development, it is

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expected that people will migrate to Martadi for only 2 km is blacktop remaining is earthen (Badimalika employment, business, higher education, and other socio- Municipality Profile, 2015). The motorable road towards economic opportunities in the coming years. the northern portion is smoothly running in the dry season up to Porakhe (Badimalika municipality -7). Most of the Road/Street Layout and Linkages roads are narrow width (e.g. 4-10 m) and trails and pavement are 3 meters in width (Figure 2). Sanfebagar-Martadi-Kolti road is a strategic road of the Bajura district had started construction in 2000 and A couple of years ago, Martadi was isolated in the country, planned to be upgraded into blacktop within 2023 (The due to a lack of roads and transportation. Air service was Himalaya Times, March 07, 2020). It connects the district only one option, but it was high airfare and have not headquarter Martadi to other municipalities and villages of accessed to common people. Therefore, the only common Bajura district and Safebagar (Achham) to the south. means of transportation was Mules (for transporting Badimalika municipality consists of 10.16 km district road, goods) and people in those days were used to walk to 36.04 km highway, 28.49 km municipal road among which reach Martadi.

Figure 2: Road Network and Conditions of Roads Martadi Bazar reveals poor surficial conditions

as all the roads are earthen having lack of smooth traffic movement. Except of Highway passing through Sanfe are not all-weather roads.

Martadi has had direct links with Kathmandu, Nepalgunj, Center of Economic Activities and Dhangadi towns by air and road transportation. Safe- Martadi road (57km-blacktop) and an airport at Kolti Martadi is the district headquarter and a major market connects Martadi with towns of Nepal located in plain and center in the far-west region. Rara lake-Khaptad national hills region that has supported to expand their service park-trans Himalayan trekking trail passing through it. The area, facilities and building density in Martadi. market is completely dependent on the other market centers located in Terai regions such as Dhangadi, However, regional and local connectivity was relatively Nepalgunj, and Surkhet for goods and services. Once the poor as compared to other towns of Nepal due to its goods and services are collected in Martadi, they are difficult topography and poor road conditions. Local people thereafter redistributed to other municipalities and villages of Martadi area will need a day's walk to reach the airport in Bajura district. Martadi also serves other villages and at Kolti. Martadi can also be reached via Chainpur small market centers located in Achham, Bajhang, and (); however, it requires a two-day walk Doti when they come to Martadi for sells their local through the border of Khaptad National Park area. products. The Sanfe-Martadi road of 57 km connects major settlements, villages, and market centers of Bajura district, which is the main route to flow people, goods, and

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services. The road has a direct link with Dhangadi, households with a single room, about 48 percent with two Mahendranagar, and Nepalgunj of southern towns. Rara rooms /buildings have more than two rooms. Similarly, lake-Khaptad national park trekking trail passes via only 22 percent of the families are living in rented Martadi as the centre point and crosses Martadi. accommodation, nearly 3 percent reside in temporary Therefore, the service area (hinterland) of Martadi is sheds constructed on rented lands (Badimalika relatively larger in the region except for Safebagar Municipality, 2015). More than 90 percent of the houses (Achham) and Dipayal (Doti), however, both are located have been constructed with mud bricks/stone. Cement far from the Martadi. Badimalika, , Triveni, and bonded bricks/stone foundations comprise only about 2 municipalities and Khaptad Chhededaha, percent and an additional about 2 percent were wooden Gaumul, Swamikartik Khapar, and Jagannath rural pillars (CBS, 2011). There were only 2 houses have municipalities () of Bajura district are Reinforced Cement Concrete (RCC) structure design completely dependent on Martadi for goods and services. (CBS, 2011). However, there is a growing trend of RCC building construction and newly constructed houses are Housing/Building Morphology and Transformation made by cement bonded bricks/stone or RCC in the Martadi area. The traditional mud mortar houses Building structures in Martadi represent the overall high construction in the bazaar area is in a declining stage with mountain towns of Nepal. There are about 15percent the increasing trend of construction of cemented buildings.

Photo 1: Building Typology Figure 3: Materials Used in Buildings

Tile/slate is the major material for the construction of roofs been constructed with RCC frame in the Market area. At in the study area (Figure 3). More than 77 percent of present buildings with RCC pillar foundation as well as houses have tile/slate roof (Photo 1). Only 1.46 percent of cement-bonded brick/stone, the outer wall is observed houses have been made up by using modern construction increasing gradually in Martadi area which also indicates materials such as Rod-Cement-Concrete (RCC). the changing scenario of building construction in Martadi However, during the fieldwork period, it was observed that area. It also indicated that traditional mud bonded straw/mud and tile/slate were replaced by galvanized steel brick/stone foundation and outer wall houses are gradually (tin roof) and RCC; and new buildings/ houses have mostly replaced into modern houses in Martadi areas.

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Photo 2: Change in building morphology, increasing use of modern constructional materials

The gradual transformation of housing morphology began Generally, the ground floor of the house is used for a few years ago with the road transportation facility linking business/shops in market areas while it is used for storage Dhangadi to Martadi via Sanfebagar and Dipayal. These of firewood, planks, grains, etc. in the other corner of the days people prefer to construct modern houses rather than ground floor. The open kitchen with improved cooking the traditional typical house due to the shortage of stoves, traditional cooking patterns or gas stoves, and traditional housing materials, skilled workers, and traditional utensils are observed. Housing structures of increased cost of traditional houses. Photographs (Photo Martadi and surrounding areas reflect the local geography, 2) shows the morphological transformation of houses at climate, culture, and tradition. Settlements located in Martadi and peripheral areas: relatively high altitudes and ridge have small windows to prevent cold wind during winter. The housing morphology seems almost similar in several aspects in Martadi and surrounding settlements (Photo 3).

Photo 3: Typical morphology of local houses at Martadi

Settlement Pattern

Martadi has developed in the form of the compact the construction of Sanfe-Martadi road, most settlements settlement that lies in the upland on edge of Bauligad are concentrated in and around Martadi and the roadside. River, and Sanfe-Martadi road has passed through it. These settlements are mostly linear and cluster pattern. Being the district headquarter as well as the major market Historical Google earth images have also depicted that the centre of Bajura district; and one of the major settlements rapid expansion of Martadi from the last ten years from located on the trans-Himalayan trail connecting Rara lake dispersed to the cluster to linear cluster patterns (Figure to Khaptad national park (famous tourist destination sites), 4). Kolti, Dhamkane, Tipada, Betakmandu, Rithebazar, there is a high scope of urban expansion in the future. After Jadanga, Bire Khola, Rapak, Bhaunera, Pata, Chuthi are

Urban Form and Land use Transformations in the High Mountain Town of Martadi (Bajura) Nepal other local markets where gradual changes have also been observed and urbanization seems to be increasing gradually in the future.

Figure 4: Changes in Settlement Form of Martadi Bazar area in 2008-2017 Source: Google Earth Achieve Images, 2008-2017.

Land use and Future Expansion of Town present, cultivation is the dominant land use and built-up (including residential, commercial, institutions, and High mountain town like Martadi has limited space for infrastructure) area is covered about 37 percent. Forest urban expansion. However, being a potential Himalayan and bush are limited to only 5.54 hectares (9.29 percent) town, future expansion of this town is inevitable. At in Martadi area (Figure 5).

Urban Form and Land use Transformations in the High Mountain Town of Martadi (Bajura) Nepal

Figure 5: Urban form and Expansion in Martadi Town (existing and proposed)

However, there is high scope for the development of and economic and social development of the town. Martadi through planned interventions. Land-use zoning is Keeping this fact in mind, this study has proposed different one of the important tools to regulate urban development land use classes in Martadi. In the planning framework,

Urban Form and Land use Transformations in the High Mountain Town of Martadi (Bajura) Nepal the existing built-up area has been divided into different area have been proposed as 1.06 hectare, 4.41 and 9.28h zones e.g. mixed (residential and commercial), industrial, hectare respectively. Existing urban areas of Martadi institutional, and potential urban expansion areas. Out of which has been proposed as core urban areas consist of 59 hectares area of Martadi, 24.60 hectares has been 20.28 hectares (Table 1). This shows the future internal proposed for urban development areas whereas mixed land use structure of Martadi area. (residential and commercial), industrial and institutional

Table 1: Land use classes in Martadi Area Existing Land use Proposed Land use S.N. Type Area (ha.) percent S.N. Type Area (ha.) percent 1 Built UP 22.27 37.35 1 Mixed (Residential &Commercial Area) 1.06 1.78 2 Forest and Bush 5.54 9.29 2 Industrial Area 4.41 7.40 3 Cultivation 31.82 53.36 3 Institutional Area 9.28 15.56 4 Core Urban Area 20.28 34.01 5 Potential Urban Expansion Area 24.59 41.24 Total 59.63 100.00 Total 59.63 100.00

The analysis revealed that future scenarios of conversion seems that agriculture and bushland use have rapidly agriculture and barren land into industrial, institutional, and converted into residential and other service facilities and residential purposes have been increased significantly. institutional use. Therefore, being a high mountain town, The urban core area will be developed in the present main (rural) urbanization and related processes have brought a market area whereas the mixed zone will be developed significant change in land use pattern and ultimately its around the core area and beyond that, a large chunk of the morphological features of Martadi Bazar area. residential zone (urban expansion site) will be developed. Beyond that industrial and institutional zone will be set up and forest and agriculture afterward. This will shape REFERENCES Martadi into a planned and sustainable town in the future. Badimalika Municipality (2015). Badimalika Municipality Profile. Martadi, Bajura. CONCLUSION Badimalika Municipality (2016). Municipal Transport Master Plan (MTMP) of Badimalika Municipality. Martadi, generally, has been overlooked in development in Martadi, Bajura. the past. It is a rural district headquarter and was not been Bista, G.S. (2016). Trends of Urban Growth and connected in the mainstream development of the country Urbanization in Far-western Terai of Nepal due to lack of physical infrastructure, services, and (unpublished Ph.D Thesis). Nainital, India: facilities. Due to geographical remoteness and lack of Department of Geography, Kumaun University. proper connectivity, it was supposed to be slagged areas Central Bureau of Statistics. (2011). National population of development in the past. After designation municipal housing census. Kathmandu: Government of Nepal. status, Martadi has gone through a rapid change in land Chidi, C.L. (2009). Human Settlements in High Altitude use by increasing in-migration from the rural and ridge-top Region Nepal. The Geographical Journal of Nepal, 07, to valleys. In recent years, regional connectivity has also 1-6. : Central Department of Geography, been increased. The trans-Himalayan trail linking Khaptad Tribhuvan University. national park to Rara lake national park (renowned tourism Dame, J., Schmidt, S., Muller, J., & Nusser, M. (2019). sites) (vice-versa) in the high mountain region through Urbanization and socio-ecological challenges in high Martadi has also increased the mobility of people goods mountain towns: Insights from Leh (Ladakh), India. and services, and this has resulted in rapid infrastructure Landscape and Urban Planning, 189. ELSEVIER. development, population concentration, and service https://www.researchgate.net/publication/332935840. facilities which are also called ‘transformation’. In this Devkota, K. (2018). Challenges of inclusive urbanization in process, traditional housing units and buildings have the face of political transition in Nepal. In Joshua rapidly been re-shaped into modern by increasing the use Mugambwa and Mesharch W. Katusiimeh (Eds.), of modern constructional materials e.g., iron, cement, Handbook of Research on Urban Governance and brick, etc.; which ultimately has changed the Management in the Developing World (pp.159-171). morphological characteristics of Martadi. Major USA: IGI Global. morphological cases found in Martadi are dispersed to DUDBC (2019). Morphological enhancement and linear cluster patterns of settlement which are identified on retainment of Trans Himalayan Trail of Martadi. the basis of field observation, service availability, and Kathmandu: DUDBC. accessibility. This also drives the town into further DUDBC (2013). Planning norms and standards. expansion in a certain direction led by development Kathmandu: DUDBC, Ministry of Urban Development, infrastructure, services facilities, and road networks. It Government of Nepal.

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Urban Form and Land use Transformations in the High Mountain Town of Martadi (Bajura) Nepal