Such uncertainty makes effective provisions for earthquake warning and evacuation next to impossible. Therefore, Nepal must develop sensible ways to minimise the loss of life, livelihood, and property when earthquakes occur (because they surely will). There is no better time than now to begin serious thinking on this serious matter because haphazard and ad hoc measures put in place today could deter, or worse, prevent two key requirements for effective earthquake management in the future: responsible rebuilding and practical preparation.These goals may not have been feasible after 1934, given the technology at the time, but they are now attainable if Nepalis are so determined.

In the aftermath of the quakes, there has been and continues to be enormous efforts put in search and rescue operations as well as immediate relief, including temporary disaster housing. Maintaining primary focus on search and rescue and relief is absolutely necessary in the short-term. In the medium-term, focus will no doubt shift towards providing adequate transitional housing and services—people should be housed adequately, children should be in school, and sick persons should be given medical care. The long-term goals of responsible rebuilding and practical earthquake preparation come next. But the work of defining what long-term goals should begin now because without identifying them, it is hardly possible to build suitable roadmaps that lead to them. In fact, the medium-term goals also depend greatly on what the long-term goals are.

In this article, I would like to engage concerned Nepalis and anybody who wants to start thinking about the long-term goals for Nepal. I would like to call on architects, engineers, entrepreneurs, environmentalists, government leaders, planners, scientists, and other experts. I would like to warn the readers that this article does not provide many answers. What it does is ask relevant questions in an organised framework to facilitate discussions. The questions posed here are not meant to be comprehensive but are only a starting point.

Architecture and engineering: What types of buildings are appropriate for Nepal in terms of cost-effectiveness, earthquake resistance, environmental and ecological soundness, and also preservation of culture, history, and aesthetics? Do prescriptions for construction vary by geography and soil type, and if so, in what ways? What are the best practices in other earthquake-prone countries such as Japan, and are those methods applicable to Nepal? How can existing buildings be retrofitted adequately? What practices in Nepal have been successful so far? How should builders and construction workers be retrained? How long will it take to build permanent housing for families who have lost homes and how much will it cost?

City and village planning: How should cities and villages be designed for rebuilding? What are the best practices for city and village planning from other earthquake-prone countries than can be applied in Nepal? Are the existing building and planning codes appropriate, and if not, how can they be improved? Should some areas, such as places prone to landslides, not be rebuilt, and if so, what are the appropriate criteria for deciding which areas to rebuild? How can planning, including relocation, be made sensitive to local needs and how can it also empower citizens?

Infrastructure and contingency planning: Given the difficulty of road construction in Nepal and the potential for roads getting damaged during natural disasters, should Nepal build helipads throughout the country? Should Nepal also acquire a large fleet of helicopters for transportation as well as disaster relief? What should Nepal do for disaster-contingency planning? Should Nepal build more international airports scattered across the country? Should Nepal also build major hospitals, crisis centres, as well as information and power grids in different parts of the country? How feasible are such goals?

Disaster training and preparation: How can Nepal conduct earthquake drills in schools, public spaces and offices on a regular basis? How can security guards and building custodians be thoroughly trained to conduct earthquake evacuations? How can the armed forces, the police and crisis workers conduct regular simulations and exercises to prepare for natural disasters? How can Nepal partner with India and China to enhance disaster preparedness? How should the public be provided general disaster training?

Scientific research and development: How can Nepal invest in high-calibre institutions that conduct research in geology and seismology? How can Nepal also invest in innovative and collaborative training laboratories that perform scientific work ranging from digital mapping to development of new technology? How can research and development be performed in an interdisciplinary fashion inside Nepal and in collaboration with experts overseas?

Clearly, the government of Nepal should be at the forefront of any effort to rebuild Nepal responsibly and prepare the country for future earthquakes. In particular, the National Planning Commission, as it conducts the post-disaster needs assessment, should also conduct a quick, but comprehensive, study in the next few weeks to determine the long-term vision for the country. It should then continue to guide the country to attain the long-term goals established through its study. As the government works towards rebuilding Nepal’s cities and villages, can the commission also help strengthen democratic institutions and political processes, and reconcile existing divisions?

To help with the study and effort to rebuild Nepal, the commission should call on experts inside and outside the country to engage in interdisciplinary collaboration. Non-governmental organisations, the private sector, experts, intellectuals and the media can contribute in the rebuilding and disaster-preparation efforts by helping answer the questions posed above, and working collaboratively and effectively. To successfully rebuild Nepal, the government will surely need a large inflow of funds. How can the Nepal government work to ensure a sustainable flow of funds? Can it work with foreign governments, multilateral agencies and international organisations to procure and manage funds and technical assistance?

Satyendra Patrabansh

Satyendra Patrabansh is a board member of the US chapter of Help Nepal Network. He is an economist based in Washington, DC