Dr. Vidhu Prakash Kayastha, Kathmandu.
As Nepal continues to grapple with devastating floods and cloudbursts, the aftermath of the recent monsoon season sheds light on critical urban planning failures, infrastructure neglect, and the encroachment of rivers and rainwater outlets in cities. These factors, compounded by climate change, are not only threatening lives but also destabilizing the country’s economic and social fabric.
The Anticipated Impact and Scale of the Flooding Disaster
By September 29, 2024, water levels in the Bagmati and Koshi rivers had started to subside following reduced rainfall intensity. However, authorities remained on high alert, anticipating potential flash floods in smaller rivers, especially in districts like Dhankuta, Ilam, and Jhapa. The rains had already caused widespread devastation, damaging infrastructure, agriculture, and leaving thousands of people stranded without shelter. The situation worsened by October 2, when the water levels of the Kankai River were predicted to rise, prompting precautionary warnings for the communities living nearby.
Although Nepal’s monsoon season typically ends by September, the effects of La Niña are expected to prolong the risk of heavy rainfall through December, signaling that the country might not be out of danger yet. The threat of flash floods continues to loom over urban and rural settlements alike, especially in the Kathmandu Valley, which has seen a rise in flood-related damage due to inadequate flood management systems and rapid urbanization.
Encroachment of Rivers: A Key Factor in Flooding
The rapid urbanization of Kathmandu and other cities has led to increased encroachment along the Bagmati River Basin and other floodplains. As settlements expand, residential areas are being built on land that was once designated for water drainage. Without adequate space for rivers to flow freely, these areas have become prone to inundation during the monsoon season.
One of the main challenges contributing to this problem is unplanned construction. In Kathmandu, rapid population growth and the demand for housing have resulted in the occupation of riverbanks and low-lying areas. The encroachment not only reduces the river’s ability to absorb floodwater but also leaves residents highly vulnerable to riverine flooding.
Compounding the issue, deforestation around these rivers has worsened the situation. Forests, which play a critical role in regulating water flow and prevent surface water runoff, are being cleared for development. This has significantly altered the natural flood control mechanisms, turning what was once a manageable risk into a full-scale disaster.
Negligence in Infrastructure Maintenance
Alongside urban expansion and deforestation, the neglect of critical infrastructure such as roads, bridges, and settlements along the riverbanks has exacerbated the impact of floods. By early October, floodwaters had damaged major highways and bridges, severing key transport links in and out of Kathmandu. The Bhimphedi-Kulekhani-Phakhel and BP highways, for example, were blocked by debris from landslides, leaving entire regions inaccessible. With roads damaged or impassable, humanitarian aid struggled to reach the affected areas, leaving people stranded in flooded regions without the necessary support.
Worse still, many of those who lost their lives during this disaster were traveling on these same highways when they were swept away by rising floodwater. A lack of proper infrastructure, maintenance and flood mitigation systems contributed directly to the high human toll.
Similarly, informal settlements along the riverbanks in cities like Kathmandu and Lalitpur were some of the worst affected by the recent floods. Thousands of homes, mostly occupied by marginalized communities, were destroyed or severely damaged. These settlements, often built with inadequate planning and poor infrastructure, lack the resilience to withstand extreme weather events, leaving families vulnerable to both flooding and landslides.
Impact on Livelihoods and Economic Sectors
The floods have caused widespread damage to agriculture, which is the backbone of Nepal’s economy. At least 46,569 hectares of farmland in Madhesh Province were affected, with rice vital for food security completely inundated. As a result, millions of people employed in agriculture, particularly in rural areas, have lost their livelihoods. The economic impacts are particularly devastating in a country that is still recovering from a recession and struggling with high poverty levels.
The damage to infrastructure has also crippled transport networks, further disrupting the economy. With roads impassable, markets are isolated, and farmers cannot transport their goods to urban centers, leading to increased food prices and the potential for widespread food insecurity.
Additionally, with many schools damaged or destroyed, around 23,000 students have been affected, disrupting education and jeopardizing the future of an entire generation. The financial strain of rebuilding homes, infrastructure, and businesses, combined with loss of income, will likely increase poverty rates in the coming months.
Climate Change: An Aggravating Factor
As climate change accelerates, Nepal is witnessing more frequent and severe flooding events. Rising temperatures in the Himalayas are contributing to the rapid melting of glaciers, which adds more water to already swollen rivers during the monsoon season. The unpredictability of rainfall, combined with deforestation and poorly managed urban growth, has created a perfect storm for these devastating floods.
With climate models predicting higher-than-average rainfall over the next few years, Nepal’s vulnerability to flooding will only increase. The worsening monsoon seasons, characterized by intense rainfall and extreme weather events, will exacerbate the strain on Nepal’s infrastructure and communities, particularly those in flood-prone areas.
A Call for Action: Improving Urban Planning and Infrastructure
To mitigate the effects of future flooding, Nepal must prioritize better urban planning and flood management. This includes enforcing zoning laws to prevent construction along riverbanks and floodplains, improving drainage systems in urban areas, and investing in resilient infrastructure. Additionally, the maintenance and upgrading of roads, bridges, and critical infrastructure must become a national priority to reduce the impact of landslides and floods on communities.
Furthermore, deforestation must be curbed, and reforestation initiatives should be a part of the broader flood control strategy. Protecting natural landscapes not only helps in reducing runoff but also contributes to the overall health of the ecosystem, providing long-term solutions to the flooding crisis.
Conclusion
Nepal’s floods are not only a consequence of heavy rainfall but also the result of decades of poor urban planning, infrastructure neglect, and environmental mismanagement. The encroachment of rivers, combined with the country’s vulnerability to climate change, has turned these seasonal events into catastrophic disasters. Moving forward, a coordinated effort to improve urban planning, restore ecosystems, and invest in resilient infrastructure will be critical in reducing the impacts of future floods and safeguarding communities in the years to come.
