Kathmandu Metropolitan City has partnered with National Society for Earthquake Technology-Nepal for redevelopment of core city areas into earthquake-resistant integrated housing.

Chief and Executive Officer of KMC Rudra Singh Tamang and Executive Director of NSET-N Amod Mani Dixit signed MoU on Friday to the effect. As per the understanding, NSET will provide technical assistance to KMC for its house pooling project for earthquake-damaged areas in inner Kathmandu. In addition, NSET will conduct risk evaluation of damaged structures and provide suggestions on minimising their effect.

Dixit said the agreement was a big opportunity to his organisation which has been working on earthquake technology for 22 years. “This collaboration will help KMC to fulfil its responsibility of providing safe housing to its citizens,” he said. NSET will work towards controlling earthquake risk in the future, containing existing risk and making new structures safer, he added.

Tamang hoped that this partnership will be emulated throughout the country towards building earthquake-resistant settlements. “Society needs assurance that they can live safely without fear and we are trying to do exactly that,” he said. “NSET’s assistance will be extremely helpful as we have to go for urban regeneration in earthquake-ravaged Kathmandu.”