Dilli Prasad POUDEL, Southasia Institute of Advanced Studies (SIAS), Nepal
Sophie BLACKBURN, Oxford Brooks University , United Kingdom
Anushiya SHRESTHA, Southasia Institute of Advanced Studies (SIAS), Nepal
Jon ENSOR, University of York , United Kingdom
Bercena ALEJANDRO, King’s college, London, United Kingdom
Following the 2015 earthquake, the Nepal government, aligning with the international agreements, issued several Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) and Management policies. Despite being comprehensive, these policies neglect tackling everyday risks. Everyday risks refer to daily challenges and shocks that are differently faced by individuals based on their socio-economic positions, which for many are exacerbated by haphazard urbanization. In these backdrops, we analyze the “gaps” between the local risk production and the management of risks by the municipal and community-level governments taking Khokana village, a rapidly urbanizing and reforming periurban village in the southern part of Kathmandu Valley (KV), as the case site. Based on interviews, focused group discussions, and several meetings with local disaster management committee during July 2019-December 2021, we, firstly, found elected politicians’ affinity towards investment in infrastructure projects is limiting local DRR activities and simultaneously increasing everyday risks. Secondly, some local communities view urban development projects and migrants as threats to local land and culture, which can trigger conflict between old and new communities in the future. Thirdly, exclusion of marginalized people in the local socio-political affairs and policy-making processes increase their vulnerability to tomorrow’s risks. Finally, the lack of risk management plan and disjoint relationship between different levels of government in terms of risk management may further entrench existing and emerging risks. In conclusion, we recommend streamlining municipal and local risk governance mechanisms to manage (1) insufficiently managed risks such as associated with haphazard urbanization, (2) ignored risks such as caused by unequal access to resources and opportunities which have exposed villagers to hazards unequally, and (3) unknown risks that may induce after the full implementation of the ongoing urbanization projects.
Mots clés :
A104159DP