Like any other major cities in the world, Kathmandu Metropolitan City has its own challenges, such as rapid urbanisation process and haphazard development, which have put pressure on the city's natural resources and physical space. The city's rapidly growing population is also stretching its infrastructure to its limit. Chronic water shortage, lack of proper waste management and traffic congestion, among others, have made life difficult here. However, I see these challenges as opportunities for the city if we launch an innovative plan that would help accomplish the vision of a clean, green and lively Kathmandu.

Despite being one of the best cities in terms of its cultural, historical and natural endowment, Kathmandu remains neglected due to lack of proper vision and strong political will to execute necessary plans.

If a city can be built in the desert in Arabia or in India with lavish facilities, surely Kathmandu Valley is well placed to stand among the world's best cities. In fact, I don't think it is that difficult to make Kathmandu city rank among the world's best cities. If I were given another chance, I would do it within a year.

Development cannot take place without the involvement of locals. Without local ownership, even the best plans would fail. This is precisely the reason behind the repeated obstructions in the ongoing development programmes, be it Melamchi Water Project or the Outer Ring Road.

Bagmati can be cleaned up easily if there is a coherent plan that addresses the underlying problems. Even today, the river is clean and garbage-free at Gokarna area. Drainages must be built downstream from Gokarna, while at the same controlling and managing those areas where waste is directly dumped into the river. The government must also secure at least 100 meters of land in both sides of the river through land pooling. Additionally, sand extracted from the mines at Pashupati area could be used to address the waste problem at the Bagmati River.

I hope that one day we can turn the banks of Bagmati into a posh area that will attract embassy buildings alongside beach markets.

Instead of spending billions of rupees on garbage disposal that faces frequent disruptions, the government can distribute plastic bins to every household and teach them how to dispose the garbage inside their own home. This will ease the problem to a certain extent. Recently, I met Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal in this connection, and he was very much impressed with my ideas. But the project to manage the Valley's garbage was handed over to a foreign company later.

Kathmandu already has too many vehicles for the length of the road it has. Only if the government widens the inner roads, it will greatly ease traffic congestion.

Introducing light train that will ply overhead rail tracks could be a mode of transport for which the Chinese Government is willing to provide technical support. I am optimistic that Kathmandu will again become clean, green and livable. But, for that, proper leadership and planning will be crucial.

(As told by the former Kathmandu mayor to Pragati Shahi & Ishwar Rauniyar of the Post)

source: The Kathmandu Post (2010),"Kathmandu can find its place among world's best cities",20 August 2010