KATHMANDU, Sept 2: Water resources expert and former Water Resources Minister Deepak Gyawali has said poor development practices have increased Nepal’s vulnerability to disasters, calling for a more effective early warning system and better risk assessment.
Speaking at a seminar on the causes and impacts of the 2026 Bhotekoshi-Trishuli flood, organised by Everest Engineering College in collaboration with the Society of Hydrologists and Meteorologists Nepal on Tuesday, Gyawali said roads built along rivers for convenience had encouraged market expansion and urbanisation. As settlements expanded and river corridors narrowed, the damage from floods and other extreme events increased.
He said development projects were often planned without adequate disaster risk assessments, leaving hydropower projects vulnerable and potentially exposing banks and insurance companies to major losses.
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Civil engineer and hydropower infrastructure expert Taranath Sapkota stressed that projects should be designed after studying at least 100 years of flood and natural hazard data. He said Nepal needs to change its approach to infrastructure planning and ensure hydropower projects are built in locations less exposed to glacial lake outbursts and glacier-related hazards.
Tribhuvan University engineering geologist Prof. Dr Ranjan Kumar Dahal called for stronger cross-border cooperation on disaster management and information sharing. Referring to disasters in Melamchi, Thame, Kagbeni and Rasuwa, he said recent incidents showed how quickly hazards could cross national borders.
Glacier and glacial lake expert Prof Dr Rijan Bhakta Kayastha said satellite images should be assessed every week to identify emerging risks. He called for a dedicated institution to analyse satellite data and develop immediate safety plans. Nepal has more than 3,800 glaciers and 2,374 glacial lakes, he said, noting the country faces significant risks from glacial floods.
Birendra Bajracharya, senior manager and geoinformation specialist at the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development, urged Nepal to make greater use of satellite-based services for monsoon-related disasters and strengthen technical capacity through available technologies. He also stressed the importance of using Chinese research, data and technology for disaster risk management.
Everest Engineering College Principal Hari Krishna Shrestha said forcing settlements and infrastructure into areas repeatedly occupied by rivers was impractical and unsafe. He particularly criticised roads constructed beneath bridges in Kathmandu Valley.
The seminar brought together experts, engineers and stakeholders to discuss the Bhotekoshi Trishuli flood, its causes, damage to settlements, roads, bridges, communications and other infrastructure, river system impacts, early warning systems, preparedness, rescue, recovery and ways to reduce future disaster risks.
