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The Kathmandu Valley Action Plan and Initiatives
As a response to the extreme risk identified in the Kathmandu
Valley, the project worked with over 80 government and non-government
institutions to develop a plan (NSET-2, 1999) to systematically
reduce the risk over time. The Prime Minister of Nepal officially
released and endorsed this plan in January, 1999 at the Earthquake
Safety Day.
The purpose of the plan is to assist His Majesty's Government
of Nepal, concerned agencies and the municipalities of the Kathmandu
Valley to reduce the region's earthquake risk over time by coordinating
and focusing risk management activities. The specific objectives
that this plan will focus on in order to achieve that purpose
are: improving emergency response planning and capability, improving
awareness of issues relating to earthquake risk, integrating
seismic resistance into new construction processes, improving
safety in school buildings, improving the seismic performance
of existing structures, improving the seismic performance of
utility and transportation systems, increasing experts' knowledge
of the earthquake phenomenon, vulnerability, consequences and
mitigation techniques, and preparing for long-term community
recovery following damaging earthquakes.
Ten specific intiatives were defined as urgent for implementation
in the next two years. NSET will actively aid and promote the
implementation of the following objectives:
- NSET will request HMG/N Government to (1)
constitute the National Disaster Management Council headed
by the Prime Minister; and (2) direct the NDMC to define an
integrated national disaster management system.
- Once constituted, the National Disaster Management
Council should (1) provide guidance for the preparation of
new (or revision of existing) integrated emergency response
plans and (2) direct those organizations to prepare plans.
- NSET will work with the Ministry of Science
and Technology to develop a comprehensive program to raise
awareness about earthquake risk and mitigation options.
- NSET will work with the municipalities and
districts in the Valley to create Disaster Management Committees
and design a program of activites, including public awareness
programs, for these committees.
- The Ministry of Housing and Physical Planning,
per NSET's request, will constitute the Building Council and
direct it to draft the rulse and procedures for implementing
and enforcing the building code, formally adopting requirements
to implement and enforce the code.
- NSET will work with the Ministry of Housing
and Physical Planning and others to prepare training materials
and provide training for building inspectors, masons and engineers
on applied aspects of design and construction of buildings
to conform to the Building Code.
- NSET will manage and coordinate the "School
Earthquake Safety Project," which will (1) inform selected
communities about the vulerability of their schools and what
can be done to reduce the risk; (2) prepare school-specific
plans for improvements in seismic safety; and (3) mobilize
support to improve the safety of the school buildings. Non-structural
hazards and mitigation methods will be explained through informational
products produced by NSET.
- NSET will encourage the Nepal Telecommunicatios
Corporation to assess the vulnerability of its system to earthquakes,
identify the most vulnerable elements, and develop a program
to improve its performance after earthquakes.
- NSET will encourage engineering institutes
to develop and offer short courses for practicing engineers
on earthquake engineering principles and procedures.
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