December 1, 2023, Kathmandu
UN-Habitat Nepal, in collaboration with Chandragiri
Municipality, has initiated the ward-level consultation workshops to assess the
implementation status, challenges, and opportunities of localizing the
Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Among 15 wards, 4 wards were chosen based
on characteristic features of dense urban core, traditional settlement,
cultural and natural heritage, and remoteness of the place. The second workshop
was held in the multipurpose hall of the ward office of Chandragiri
Municipality, Ward No. 9. The ward falls in the cultural heritage settlement
Machchhegaun, and possesses unique features of traditional practices, with
presence of both compact and new settlements. A total of 45 participants including
15 females, were present at the consultation workshop including local elected
representatives, municipal and ward office staff, community leaders, consumer
committee, representatives from schools, women cooperatives, social
organizations and community groups.
The program was facilitated by Ms. Bhadra Aryal, Senior Officer at Chandragiri Municipality and the focal contact person for the project from the municipality. Dr. Pratap Chhatkuli, Team Leader for the project presented on Sustainable Development Goals, indicators and contextualisation of the goals at local, municipal and ward level.
After a comprehensive introduction to the SDG
indicators and localisation, five groups were formed including ward officials,
government staffs and stakeholders from sectors of education, health, water
supply and sanitation, infrastructure and gender and social inclusion, on each
of five goals prioritized by Chandragiri municipality for the project. The
groups engaged in discussions analysing the present condition, challenges, what
has been done and the way forward in each of the prioritized sectors on the provided
chart and developed a presentation of five minutes each.
Focusing on SDG 11, Mr. Ishwori Prasad Timalsina, Ward
Secretary, presented on the current situation and factors necessary for future
considerations. He highlighted the lack of slums in areas where 5-7 households were
illegally living on government land. He further elucidated that about 90% of
the houses which were safe and some damaged by earthquake had to be dismantled
and reconstructed and, emphasized the necessity to ensure implementation of the
building code for safer buildings. Additionally, he mentioned that due to the
culture of joint families, about 35-40% of households had a family size of more
than 5 and suggested increasing the budget for natural resources and
conservation of heritage, which was about 10-15%, according to context.
Mr. Devendra Maharjan, former ward chairperson who has also been on the Water Supply and Consumer Committee presented on SDG 6. He explained that there are four deep borings in Ward No. 9, on which 95% of the population depends on. However, water availability is limited to every alternate day in households. He also elaborated on the importance of sustainability of water supply, including monitoring of water table and construction of water recharge system through ponds and recharge pits in different places. He added that 98% of the population has access to a managed toilet system, and that there are 3 public toilets in the ward. And, stressed on the importance of separation of degradable and non-degradable waste at source to minimize accumulated waste and increasing awareness among the general public.