The result was, while there might have been dearth of most essential items and services in the post-quake period, there was no paucity of news, whether in the print media, TV, radio or online portals. The news tsunami continued for days. Repeated aftershocks gave enough reason to foreign media to stay put beyond what is usual for them in similar circumstances. Tragedy makes great news in the western world especially if it emanates from a small country nestled in the Himalayas.But how much of bad news can one take? Death, destruction and despair at the scale unleashed by 7.9 Richter scale quake had the nation gasping for breath. The turmoil and trauma had crushed our spirit and we were desperately seeking oxygen of life and hope. Thankfully, things are gradually settling down. The torrent of anxiety-raising news has been reduced to a trickle now.
But it has been replaced by a challenge no less daunting—that of reconstructing the country, pulling it out of rubble and working not just hard but smart. Problems are aplenty but resources scarce. The inflow of foreign aid, hitherto, seems to be a far cry from actual needs of a ravaged Nepal.
It would, therefore, be worthwhile to come up with practical, pragmatic and innovative solutions instead of remaining stuck in the rigmarole of data-laden analysis which often leads to functional paralysis.
I wish to make a few suggestions in this article, which, if implemented earnestly, can make significant difference in some areas of immediate concern.
To say that tourism is Nepal's lifeline would be a truism. Fortunately or unfortunately, for most foreign tourists, Kathmandu epitomizes Nepal. A major chunk of tourism dollars is spent here. The city's old world charm and its heritage properties draw people to Kathmandu from world over. Tragically, the April 25 big tremor reduced this living history to heaps of rubble. Barring the world famous Pashupatinath temple, most religious shrines and historical monuments suffered major damage. Their destruction has shaken religious and spiritual moorings of our deeply devout people. It almost marks a loss of identity for them.
On a worldlier yet no less important level, Nepal's already fragile economy has lost its most steady and stable earner. The proposed reconstruction of Nepal should have restoration of the old world Kathmandu on top of its agenda. I am in no way suggesting that the needs of the thousands who have lost their kith and kin, home and hearth be neglected or be accorded lower priority. Human beings should and will always get precedence over brick and mortar creations howsoever historical or sacrosanct the latter may be.
But it is also true that humans are resourceful enough to rebuild their lives though government and other assistance is always welcome and vital. But history and heritage need to be nurtured by humans. This becomes imperative when your heritage is your principal bread earner.
So how should we go about it?
One, restore the historical glory of Kathmandu by rebuilding its shrines, monasteries, official and residential premises which reflect city and country's real ethos, spirit, design and architecture. For example, members of Newar community suffered relatively less casualties as their houses are built around traditional 'chowks' (open spaces) which offered refuge whenever quake and its aftershocks shook the country.
It is this Nepal which will give tourists their much sought after share of thrill and exotic experience. Our modern office buildings and flimsy multi-storied apartments spell no magic for foreign tourists.
Two, decongest Kathmandu by creating a satellite city to accommodate all major official buildings. The capital is bursting at its seams. Shanties are mushrooming all around. The much revered Bagmati is more of a drain today than a river it used to be. Civic facilities are under tremendous strain. Unscrupulous builders have added to capital's woes. Their flimsy apartments came down like a pack of cards, killing thousands of gullible residents.
People have been flocking to Kathmandu from all over the country because it has become the hub of all politico-economic activities. Why should it be so?
In India, while Gujarat's biggest city is Ahmedabad, the state's capital Gandhinagar is just 23 kilometers away with the legislature building and all main state government offices. Many think that the old city of Guwahati is Assam's capital. No. The capital is Guwahati's satellite town Dispur with all the state government paraphernalia.
The benefits of such urban planning were manifold. The older cities arrested further congestion and maintained their historical ambience, drawing inland and foreign tourists. The self contained new capitals created livelihoods for millions and also improved governance. Some other Indian states hold their legislature sessions in two different cities at different times of the year.
Three, retain Kathmandu as Nepal's historical, cultural and tourist centre which it has always been. Shift the government's administrative unit to a properly planned satellite town or a national capital region offering more space and better connectivity with the outside world.
The new administrative hub could be based on the smart city pattern using digital technology to offer its citizens integrated services for transport, traffic, healthcare, water, energy, waste management, etc at reduced costs and with least resource consumption.
The smart city concept is most relevant for the administrative center of a country like Nepal where large number of people reside in remote and difficult-to-reach areas. This had emerged as a major challenge in the post-quake relief operations. Smart city applications enable real time responses to challenges. Contrary to popular perception, use of digital technology is far more cost effective and impactful than conventional governance. It also ensures transparency, accountability and measurability of government and administrative measures and extends their reach to the remotest corners.
Smart cities not only reduce corruption they also help in creating an inclusive society by integrating the underprivileged into the urban bloodstream. It does not require razing of slums and small markets. It embraces informal workers. Bogota, Colombia's most populous city, recently incorporated 15,000 informal rag and trash pickers into its municipal rubbish and recycling program. Nearby city Medellin has also emerged as a role model for smart inclusive society by creating amenities which serve as "a ladder from poverty to economic opportunity".
Yuwa Hedrick-Wong of Center for Inclusive Growth says, "The success or failure of the human species will be determined in cities." By 2020, majority of humankind will live in cities, rather than in rural areas. And most of the urban growth will happen in the developing world, Nepal included. The April 25 calamity may have mauled Nepal's body but it has not crippled our mind. Think out of the box and you will discover opportunities we had not even thought of before. Our future lies in creating a sustainable and economically viable Nepal, the smart way.
The author is the Founder of Basant Chaudhary Foundation, poet, writer and social enthusiast
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