| Author | Dongol, Jun |
| Call Number | AIT Thesis no.HS-98-06 |
| Subject(s) | Squatter settlements--Nepal--Kathmandu
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| Note | A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science, School of Environment, Resources and Development |
| Publisher | Asian Institute of Technology |
| Abstract | The increasing urban population fueled by continuous migration of low-income people from various parts of Nepal has an impact on overall housing situation in Kathmandu. Rapid urbanization, lack of cheap accommodation, rising land values, escalating prices of building materials and ineffective land use planing regulations have led to the growth of squatter settlements in pockets of public and private marginal lands. Because of their illegal status, squatter settlements have inadequate public services resulting into the poor and substandard living and housing conditions. Although squatters in Kathmandu represent only 2 percent of the overall population of the city, it has been growing at an alarming rate of 15 percent over the past two years. There is an urgent need to address the issue to improve their conditions and control their growth before the situation gets unmanageable like in many other cities of developing countries. The study looks into the issues related to squatter settlements in Kathmandu, particularly assessing various typologies of settlements to distinguish their physical and socio-economic characteristics, identify the diverse needs and priorities of squatters as well as their potentials to upgrade their conditions. The study also reviews the current policies and plans for squatter settlements, analyzing their strengths and weaknesses and identifying different actors involved in the upgrading processes. Information regarding the characteristics of settlements, needs and priorities of squatters has been collected through focus group discussions at six selected settlements and their physical conditions have been mapped. An analysis of housing policies, squatter policies, current and planned activities has been conducted through the review of secondary information, semi-structured interviews with planners, policy-makers and other actors. The study concludes that there exist significant differences among new and old settlements in terms of shelter types, their level of consolidation and other infrastructure services depending upon their economic structures and degree of awareness. Lack of purchasing powers deprives squatters of urban land and appropriate shelter. Current government policies on squatters are strictly laissez-faire; relocation or resettlements and inappropriate evictions, which are being carried out. The study concludes by recommending settlement-upgrading policies as viable option for improving the existing situations of squatter settlements both temporarily and permanently under certain conditions where both the formal and informal sectors can play active roles. |
| Year | 1998 |
| Type | Thesis |
| School | School of Environment, Resources, and Development |
| Department | Other Field of Studies (No Department) |
| Academic Program/FoS | Human Settlement (HS) |
| Chairperson(s) | Sheng, Yap Kioe; |
| Examination Committee(s) | Archer, Raymon W. ;Lefebvre, Bernard G.; |
| Scholarship Donor(s) | Norwegian Agency for Development, Norway; |
| Degree | Thesis (M.Sc.) - Asian Institute of Technology, 1998 |