Promoting Resilient and Sustainable Urban Growth by Augmenting DRR Capacity of Local Authorities Through Active Private Sector Involvement PRAGATINewsletter | March 2018 Engaging Private Sector in Disaster Risk Reduction Enhancing capacities Reviving ponds to strengthen to build back better fi re preparedness “Almost all the houses I built collapsed in What seems to be a gutter fl owing across the the last earthquake. The house owners city of Shankhu was once most celebrated still scolds me whenever they meet me. water canal that fl owed along the door step It was really a bad experience,” Nawaraj of nearly 1000 household located in 8 Toles Lamichhane, a mason. (small villages) of the settlement. While few Page 2-3 artistic stone spouts are taking their last breath to remind this generation what water management system of Sankhu, the PRAGATI project has joined hands with the elected bodies to restore some of the ponds in the area, for fi re preparedness and tourism. Page 4-5 Home stays struggling to revive it’s lost ‘Beauty’ Still a long way to go It was the good alternative source of income The base line survey of PRAGATI project for the families before earthquake. The project concluded that the level of preparedness for The average yearly income of the homestay disaster risk management at the household, was from Rs. 150, 000 to 200,000 The 2015 community, local government institutions, and Earthquake totally damaged all home stays private entities is still weak and that it needed forcing them to shut down for months. more intervention. Page 12-13 Page 14-15 1 Masons Trained The PRAGATI project conducted mason training on Earthquake Resistant Building Construction Techniques for urban masons of Changunarayan and Sankharapur Municipality. The training comprised of 23 local masons among whom 9 were women in Changunarayan and 20 masons (six women) in Sankharapur Municipality. It was based on the Department of Urban Development & Building Construction (DUDBC)’s seven-day curriculum and a day-long interlock block technology as an alternative building technique. The training helped enhance the capacity of these masons to implement earthquake resistant technology in their upcoming construction works. Specifi c objective of the training was to create awareness about seismic hazards on structural system among the participants and provide basic knowledge and skills on earthquake safe building construction procedures to masons. The purpose of the training was to enhance the knowledge ISHWAR RAUNIYAR PRATAP MAHARJAN and skills of existing skilled workforce involved in building construction business like masons, carpenter, steel fi xer/ bar benders and local petty contractors who work as head mason and overall Enhancing capacity to in-charge for house construction. There were good participation of female masons as well. build back better perception that women cannot partake in the is likely to soar, hence this training will help The April 2015 earthquake, on a positive side, provided opportunities for women to works other than their kitchen. We can do me get more jobs,” says Nawaraj. He shared lead the post-quake reconstruction works and taught more resilient masonry skills everything given the support of our family that some house owners now demand to see to those following traditional methods previously. This will help build better members to let us go out to work,” she added. training certifi cates to verify the qualifi cations Nepal and prepare for future mega disasters. She urges other women to come forward and of the masons. participate in rebuilding Nepal. The Post Disaster Needs Assessment (PDNA), Ishwar Rauniyar Communication Officer The earthquake has been an eye-opener for conducted immediately after the earthquake, many masons who had followed traditional estimated that the reconstruction of almost modes of building houses in the past. 700,000 houses, destroyed either fully or It’s a sunny afternoon. On the foothills of Tulasha Maya Suwal, who hails from ward partially in the 2015 April earthquake, would Nagarkot in Bhaktapur district, a group of number 9 of Changunarayan Municipality lost “Almost all the houses I built collapsed in the require at least 50,000 ‘trained’ masons. 23 youths are following their instructors on her house during the earthquake. She told last earthquake,” shares Nawaraj Lamichhane, construction of an earthquake resilient building. that her brothers advised her to take part in one of the participants in the training. “The The European Commission Humanitarian The instructors ask them to follow every step construction activities immediately after the house owners still chide me whenever they Aid and Civil Protection Department (ECHO) and techniques taught during the theory earthquake as there was a human resource meet me.It was a really bad experience,” he funded PRAGATI project provided training session. A number of the participants are crunch. added. to 23 masons comprising nine women from preparing a concrete mixture of sand, pebbles Changunarayan Municipality. The project and cement, whereas some are fetching water “Since then I am helping my brothers as a “I have realised there was something wrong believes that they will play pivotal role in from the tap nearby and the rest are busy labourer to construct buildings,” she says. with my building method. We did not care building back their communities. Similar reshaping iron rods to fi t in the structure. “Also, it helps me get rid of the monotony about using bracings while building houses – training will also be conducted in Sankharapur caused by staying idle at home. ” which, I now realise, is one of the main factors Municipality. Participants were assessed and The construction site looks a bit messy with in strongly propping the house up.” fi nalised by the municipality and local ward the deposits of construction materials (sand, She was spotted by the local government offi ce. The project coordinated with these pebbles, cement). The scenic beauty of authority – the ward offi ce – to take part in this He shares that masons like him didn’t follow offi ces to have the fi nal list of the participants. Nagarkot seems to encourage trainees to learn training. “I was contacted by a local offi cial and the techniques of building earthquake resilient new things despite chilling wind. was offered this training,” she says. “I was lucky houses because of ignorance and hurry to Over the time, the trainees will be skilled to come here as I got to learn new lessons” complete the construction. Moreover, house masons. This will also encourage them to work A young woman with a helmet is busy helping Tulashi is now confi dent that she can supervise owners preferred the existing modes fearing in their communities and earn better wages. measure the iron rod as they prepare to build the building construction using the techniques additional expenses. Tulashi and Nawarj are As a result, they will not be compelled to opt a demo wall. Her enthusiasm to learn building learnt from the training. confi dent that the new training will enable for foreign employment. If they plan to do techniques challenges the notion that women them to construct earthquake-resilient so, the training certifi cate will help them get should not take a lead. “ I also joined in order to change the buildings. “The demand of trained masons better opportunities abroad. 2 3 such as kalash pokhari represents “kalash” make this a successful project. (good omen) while entering the city through “bhau dhokha” (a gate specifi ed for entry of Similarly, on the other side of the town, Ward 6 new brides in the settlement). The lotus from has taken a lead to conserve and renovate the the “pala pukhu” is offered to Bajrayogini “Kalash Pukhu”. “Fire preparedness is defi nitely temple- one of the main goddess for the city. in mind. It will hold more than 600,000 liter of A pond is an important part of the Gatha water even if it is half fi lled which is important Mangal festival. Besides cultural value, these during fi re outbreak,” shares Shrestha. There water resources held importance from disaster is a hospital, police station and two schools ROJAN SHRESTHA response perspective- particularly fi re. The nearby along with a dense settlement which settlement is compact and dense; possibility of can benefi t from it. spreading fi re is very high. Hence, having the Reviving Ponds to Strengthen sources of water close was the most practical Sustainability way to put off accidental fi re. Construction of the ponds has to be Fire Preparedness complemented by its maintenance and Hazard identifi cation process has reckoned sustainability. For the purpose, its utility What seems to be a gutter fl owing across the city of Shankhu was once most accesible fi re as a major hazard after earthquake in the has to be defi ned. “Therefore we have water canal that fl owed along the doorstep of nearly 1000 household located in 8 Toles settlement. Although the municipality is in the proposed renovation of the pond in a way (small villages) of the settlement. Few artistic stone spouts are gaping dry to remind this process of managing fi re brigade, it is diffi cult that it becomes attraction to domestic and generation of the source of the water in Sankhu in the past. The PRAGATI project has joined for them to navigate through the narrow international tourist,” says Shrestha. In that hands with the elected bodies to restore some of the ponds in the area, lanes. Hence, not having water resource in way the community will be motivated to mainly for extinguishing accidental fi re and to promote tourism. the settlement poses higher risk of damage in conserve the pond. Nevertheless, its longevity case fi re starts.