Over the past one decade, the city authorities have been actively involved in organising several campaigns and programmes to raise awareness on disaster preparedness through participation of local communities.

“Since 2011, we have been prioritising community-based disaster management initiatives in our policies and programmes to minimise the risks related to various natural hazards that are already taking place, or are likely to occur in Lalitpur district,” said Ram Kumar Dhakal,  an engineer at the Disaster Management Section of the LSMC.

Under the DRMP, each ward has conducted activities like disaster risk assessment and vulnerability analysis, capacity building, rescue operation, and emergency response. “Among the 20 wards which have completed the preparations, some have already started working on implementation,” said Dhakal.  

Disasters such earthquake, landslide, and flood are considered common in Lalitpur.

In the process of formulating the disaster response plan, LSMC has formed ward-level disaster management committees. Each ward committee is comprised of nine to fifteen members, representing the local community. And each of these committee has formed task forces to look after the areas like relief and rescue, first aid treatment, and fire control.   

“We want to develop Lalitpur as a disaster resilient city,” Dhakal said.

Apart from the disaster management plan, LSMC has also been proactively monitoring the implementation of National Building Code to promote construction of earthquake-resistant houses.

Similarly, the Sub-Metropolis has been providing trainings to engineers and masons to build earthquake-resilient structures. “So far, we have already produced around 500 trained human resources,” Dhakal said. Of the total 83 open spaces identified within the Kathmandu Valley, 16 are located in Lalitpur.