Working Committee Meeting and Focus on Disaster Resilience

The Working Committee meeting of CITYNET National Chapter-Nepal was conducted in the chairmanship of Chapter’s President Mr. Ganesh Rai, Executive Officer of Kathmandu Metropolitan City Office on April 21, 2011 in Kathmandu. The meeting covered important decisions operations for institution, programmes and communications. The focal person of CITYNET National Chapter-Nepal, Ms. Sara Neupane presented completed and ongoing plans for the Chapter including their proposal of constructing a biogas plant in a slaughter house in Gulariya Municipality and the regular publication of e-newsletter encompassing planned activities of National Chapter. Mr. Mahendra Khamyahang, Executive Officer of Dhankuta Municipality briefed about the National Chapter members’ participation in the Workshop and Study Visit on Urban Human Security in Asia held in Mumbai, India on 23-26 March 2011.

Membership of the Dhulikhel municipality of CITYNET National Chapter-Nepal was approved. The Committee also decided that other municipalities would also be encouraged to be the members along with urban sector related national NGOs. The Chapter continues to follow up with municipalities regarding membership fee collection. They also expressed efforts in bringing in NGOs, institutions and other organisations into CITYNET Nepal Chapter. MuAN has also established a separate account for CITYNET Nepal Chapter but has been unable to put it in operation due to the recent change of the Chief Executive of Kathmandu. The next Working Committee meeting is planned be held within the next three months.

Other Updates:
Disaster Resilience and Management
There is a keen interest to organise workshops and seminars among various stakeholders in Kathmandu on disaster. MuAN indicated that even before the recent earthquake in Japan, stakeholders in Kathmandu had been discussing disaster-related operations. Mainly the Nepal Police and the Nepal Army had shown interests in designing rescue and relief operations. As Kathmandu is the capital and the largest city in Nepal, it would be useful for other cities to replicate the plan to suit their municipality as well. MuAN has specifically requested to CITYNET to send a team of experts to Kathmandu to talk on the issues to raise awareness of the concerned departments.