Risk Reveal: In Pahade (Migrant) group, after brief acquaintance with the dashboard, the subsequent task involved unveiling the associated risks. Here, the prime focus was on identifying and discussing the highly susceptible and low susceptible polygons for both earthquake and flood hazards (polygons were explored in advance by the facilitators). Subsequently, the underlying causes behind the high and low impacts were explored so as their mitigative measures to alleviate the impacts in the form of policies.

For Flood (70 years Return Period) (High Impact Polygon)

• Polygon: 95

For Flood (70 years Return Period) (Relatively Low Impact Polygon)

• Polygon: 380
• Population: 6920
• Building Typologies: Predominantly Rci

For Earthquake (8.2 Magnitude) (High Impact Polygon)

• Polygon: 402
• Population: 1123
• Building Typology: Predominantly BrM

For Earthquake (8.2 Magnitude) (Relatively Low Impact Polygon)

• Polygon: 120
• Population: 1205
• Building Typology: Predominantly Rci

Hazard Mapping: In Pahade (Migrant) group, the hazard mapping mainly focused on flood/inundation and landslide hazard as listed below:

The flood/inundation areas listed out are as follows:

• Flood inundation caused by Aap kholi and Feuri river in Bhalubang area, RRM-1
• Inundation caused by river between Bhalubang and Pulchowk in RRM-1
• Khukhure river in the Dursanchaar area in Pakhapani, RRM-1 that caused more damage to the settlements compared to the Rapti river
• Inundation in Lalmatiya, RRM-2 on the way to Ramnagar; Drainage problem due to the construction defect (rather than lining them in straight line, they put the drainage pipes zigzag leading to the obstruction in passing the water and flooding the surrounding.
• Inundation in Maurighat, Naya Gaun, RRM-4
• Inundation in Sisahaniya and the adjacent areas in the western part by Dolai and Singhe River mixed with seasonal rivers like Bhaiswaar River among others originating from the Northern Chure

Similarly, landslide prone areas were also mapped and listed as below:

• The entire Sitganga area being the hilly region are somehow prone to landslides especially SM9
• The Bagasoti area in RRM-1, and Chaite are highly prone to landslide
• Devikot area of RRM 9 and Bhulke or RRM 5 are equally susceptible

After navigating through the dashboard and verifying the flood and landslide prone areas in their proposed land use map of capital city; the participants were briefly asked the types of building typology that existed in the past in the capital city and the future trend.

• Mud Houses with thatched roofs by personal interest in the past and at present times as well
• Policy has been introduced for constructing buildings strictly following building process permits and building codes by the local authority; though some ignored the policy and constructed without following the building codes
• Awareness among the population is getting better; only those with poor economic status build the houses without following building codes
• Sparing already built houses, the newly constructed houses are according to the building codes

Ideas to reduce earthquake impact:

• Implementation of building codes for earthquake-resilient building construction
• Fines/Penalties against those who neglect the building code provisions or opt out of utilizing the services and facilities offered at the ward level, such as recommendations for drinking water pipelines, electricity, etc among others
• Subsidize people of low-income groups for tasks related to building code implementation
• Increase the accountability of government officials involved in building code implementation
• Establish mechanisms for disaster recovery and rescue operations
• Preservation of public lands and open areas
• Retrofit of existing structures like schools and community buildings where financially feasible
• Provide training and raise awareness among professionals involved in building codes implementation
• Regular monitoring of Buildings during construction to prevent any discretion from building code to prevent wastage of time and money later
• Restrict the use of residential buildings which are structurally deficient, promote retrofitting or reconstruction as feasible

Ideas to reduce flood impacts:

• Embankments on the seasonal rivers based on scientific analysis (according to the flow and the shape of the rivers)
• Management of the risk-prone settlements/building near river banks
• Roadside drainage well-connected to local rivers
• Preserve the natural flow of the river and prevent encroachment of the river banks and the buffer zones
• Establish an early-warning system for flooding
• Raise possible awareness on why it is important to avoid /minimize the construction in high flood hazard risk zone
• Use bio-engineering/bio-fencing methods in the construction of embankments around small or seasonal rivers. This involves selection and plantation of trees and plants of appropriate types like Bamboos, Sissoo (Dalbergia Sissoo), Bainse (Salix tetresperma), Chiuri or Butter Tree (Diploknema Butyracea), Narkat (Arundo clonax) etc
• Prevent haphazard extraction of river resources
• Preservation of lakes and ponds
• Only allow low-density settlements in high-risk prone areas

Policy Implications:

Pahade (Migrant) group had 3 policy modifications while other group also had similar brainstorms.

• Restrict the use of residential buildings which are structurally deficient, promote retrofitting or reconstruction as feasible
• Use bio-engineering/bio-fencing methods in the construction of embankments around small or seasonal rivers. This involves selection and plantation of trees and plants of appropriate types like Bamboos, Sissoo (Dalbergia sissoo), Bainse (Salix tetresperma), Chiuri or Butter Tree (Diploknema Butyracea), Narkat (Arundo clonax) etc.
• Implementation of building codes for earthquake-resilient building construction

Once the top 3 policies were prioritized, participants engaged in discussions regarding the implementation challenges associated with each policy. Policy cards containing the challenges identified during the validation workshop were distributed for review. Following a brainstorming session, participants collectively identified potential challenges. Later on, the participants were prompted to propose potential solutions aimed at addressing these challenges.