<img src="https://superdesk-pro-c.s3.amazonaws.com/sd-nepalitimes/2022111413118/637230459c7e80680e0c255ajpeg.jpg" alt="" width="1594" height="986"/>With a new increase in the number of Covid cases in Nepal, there is now a looming threat of a fourth wave in Nepal, even as public health experts are divided about the extent and severity of the new surge.But they agree on one thing: we must continue to follow preventive measures despite our vaccination and infection status since the elderly and people with comorbidities are still at high risk.Six new Omicron variants have been detected in Nepal including BA.2, BA.5, BA.2.38, BA.2.73, BA.2.75 and BF.1, according to Rajeev Shrestha, infectious disease specialist at Dhulikhel Hospital which conducted whole-genome sequencing on 22 swab samples last week.On Sunday, Nepal reported 347 new cases while 95 patients recovered. Two fatalities were recorded in the past 24 hours. Active cases have surpassed 3,000 again, with the test positivity also climbing to 8.9%.<img src="https://superdesk-pro-c.s3.amazonaws.com/sd-nepalitimes/2022111413118/637230489c7e80680e0c255bjpeg.jpg" alt="" width="1500" height="1000">The newer variants of Omicron are many times more contagious than the original strain leading to a spurt in new Covid cases daily. The World Health Organisation (WHO) has also termed all the new sub-strains as variants of concern because of their higher  transmissibility.So far, BA.5 is the most dominant sub-variant and has spread over 110 countries with France, the US, Italy, Germany and Brazil.Japan, Australia and China are also reporting spikes in new Covid cases while Iraq and Tunisia have emerged as new 'hotspots'. In South Asia and Southeast Asia, BA.5 is widespread in India and Indonesia.“Some 5.7 million people worldwide have been infected with this variant. Scientists say that 50% of the existing Covid-19 infection is from this variant,” says Sameer Kumar Adhikari of the Health Ministry. “And because it is spreading widely in India, we are also very much at risk, especially if we are lax about it like we were with previous variants.”<img src="https://superdesk-pro-c.s3.amazonaws.com/sd-nepalitimes/2022111413118/6372304b9c7e80680e0c255cjpeg.jpg" alt="" width="2554" height="1434">Another Omicron variant BA.2.75 which was first detected in India seems to be equally infectious and has spread to 14 countries including Japan, Germany, UK, Canada, America, Australia, New Zealand and Nepal.According to WHO chief scientist Saumya Swaminathan, BA.2.75 has mutated in such a way that it defeats the immune system's ability to fight the disease and can cause severe infections. Most recently, BA.1 has been found to be the most contagious of the bunch, more so than BA.2.75.The good news is that the new variants will largely spare previously vaccinated populations. But while the variants are yet to register complications like those caused by the Delta variant during the second wave, vulnerable populations are still at the highest risk, especially given that Nepal has a very low uptake for boosters.“What all these new variants are doing is reducing the effectiveness of Covid vaccines. How much is a matter of further investigation but they are indeed decreasing vaccine efficacy,” says Shrestha.<img src="https://superdesk-pro-c.s3.amazonaws.com/sd-nepalitimes/2022111413118/6372304e9c7e80680e0c255djpeg.jpg" alt="" width="1221" height="814">The Nepal government last week reinforced its vaccination campaign with a special focus on the booster shots. Even as over 80% of Nepal’s eligible population have been fully vaccinated against Covid-19, less than 25% of Nepalis have taken booster shots.Meanwhile, a new study from Qatar has found that while the rate of reinfection of new variants is comparatively high, people who have been previously infected with earlier versions of SARS-CoV-2, particularly Omicron are less susceptible to the two fast-spreading lineages BA.4 and BA.5 sub-strains.Nonetheless, experts recommend keeping a close watch on symptoms to break the cycle of infection and save those at risk of contracting the disease. People who have already been previously infected should also follow preventive measures, mask up, avoid crowds and sanitise regularly.Says Rajeev Shrestha: “As soon as you have fever, cold and loss of smell, think of yourself as Covid infected and manage accordingly. Prevention and vaccination are the only ways to stop another deadly  wave.”Read more: <a href="https://www.nepalitimes.com/banner/1-mask-up-2-avoid-crowds-3-get-boosters/">1. Mask Up. 2. Avoid Crowds. 3. Get Boosters</a>, Sonia Awale

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Is Nepal on the verge of a fourth wave?

<img width="782" height="512" src="https://superdesk-pro-c.s3.amazonaws.com/sd-nepalitimes/2022110912118/636b8aae9c7e80680e06b254jpeg.jpg" alt=""/>Nepali Times spoke to Barun Mathema, professor of epidemiology at the Mailman School of Public Health at Columbia University in New York about how the COVID-19 pandemic will affect prisons. He was recently on the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/cnn/videos/vb.5550296508/226123838751517/?type=2&amp;theater" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.facebook.com/cnn/videos/vb.5550296508/226123838751517/?type%3D2%26theater&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1586343755174000&amp;usg=AFQjCNGi6UJyyN6-u3mKXwecTMbIgCwAOw">Michael Smercornish show on CNN</a> to warn that jails can incubate infections. Nepali Times: How serious is the danger of coronavirus or other infections spreading out of prisons into the general population?  Barun Mathema: For detainees under trail for longer term sentencing I would say we need to guided by two principles: 1) as a society we are obligated to protect detainees (in jails or prisons); 2) likewise, we should take actions to reduce risk to the surrounding communities. Given that COVID-19 thrives on social contact, having crowded jails with people coming in and out is likely to promote transmission into jails, transmission within jails and 'spillover' of infections out of the jails into the community. There are many bridge populations, i.e. jail staff, detainees and visiting members of the community, for example family, that can transport the virus into or out of the jails. Also a very important consideration is that there is likely a sizable population that have a variety of co-morbid conditions that predispose poor/bad COVID-19 clinical outcomes.So, in my opinion, we need to figure out way to lessen the load of inmates in jails (and prisons) that would require us to restrict or lessen numbers going into jails and prisons and release those in jails responsibly and safely. The criminal justice system should at least consider: i) dropping charges on low-level crimes, ii) relax charging low level offenses in the first place, and 3) release detainees who are the most vulnerable (aging or those with serious co-morbidity). All of this must of course be done safely, ethically and responsibly.The result will likely help lift some pressure within the jails, reducing the risk of outbreaks and potential spillover into the community ... in addition this will likely help in our general mitigation goal of flattening the curve.Read also:<a href="http://archive.nepalitimes.com/news.php?id=13002#.XoxhTsgzbIU">Unsafe in prison</a>, Himal Khabarpatrika<a href="https://www.nepalitimes.com/latest/nepalis-trapped-down-under/">Nepal trapped Down Under</a>, Upasana Khadka<a href="https://www.nepalitimes.com/latest/lockdown-and-the-surge-in-domestic-violence/">Lockdown and the surge in domestic violence</a>, Suvexa Pradhan TuladhaYour research is mainly on the spread of tuberculosis in Brazil’s jails. But what is your view on the probable immune-enhancing property of the BCG vaccine?I work primarily on tuberculosis, anti-microbial resistance in tuberculosis and in other bacterial pathogens. BCG vaccination is one of the most widely used vaccines in the world. Although role of BCG in preventing TB has been heavily debated over the decades, BCG vaccination is thought to prevent against severe forms of childhood TB. BCG induces a potent immune response (in fact reasons why it is also used for Bladder Cancer therapy). Previous studies have shown that BCG vaccination of infants reduces all-cause mortality, and a considerable amount of infant mortality is due to respiratory and enteric viral infections. Therefore, it is plausible that BCG may induce protective immune response against viral respiratory pathogens such as SARS-CoV2. If this is the case, we do not know the extent or how long this protective immune response would last. My guess is that it will be short term - which would be great at, for example, protecting health care workers. We would need a properly controlled clinical trials for example randomised clinical trials, to demonstrate benefit of BCG vaccination in protecting against SARS-CoV2 - such a trial is underway.How did you develop an interest in epidemiology and especially on anti-microbial resistance?I have always been interested in how things work in the real world. Of course, I quickly learned that the real world is quite complex to understand and certainly too simplistic using just one type of lens. Epidemiology, as a discipline, offered a framework to integrate both macro and micro level processes at play and thus was very attractive.My interest in TB stems from the history of the disease in society, arts, and science. It is one of the oldest diseases that is really part of our social and historical DNA - virtually everywhere in the world. This is the number one killer (due to an infectious agent) in the world with nearly 4,000 deaths a day. Controlling TB, including in places like Nepal, has been challenging and very humbling. Studying TB is really a study of biology, history and society. This disease has really eluded scientists since its discovery in 1882. There is so much we should know about this disease, but just do not.In my own research, I consider myself a student of evolution. Evolution, of course, is continual a process that cannot be stopped but is rarely so visible in our day to day. AMR is a case and point for evolution. Its emergence is fascinating from a biologic perspective and the consequences quite devastating from a human health perspective. This interface has drawn me to study AMR in TB as well as other bacterial pathogens.Any comments on the way Nepal has been handling the pandemic so far?I do not think I know enough to answer this question fairly. It is surprising that there are such few confirmed cases ... likely a consequence of testing.

"Prisons can be incubators for COVID-19"

A few months ago, no one could have imagined that a microscopic microbe could ever consume the globe. Yet it has. The international economy has shut down, halting our lives, limiting families to their homes and affecting millions worldwide.
The <a href="https://www.nepalitimes.com/latest/what-nepal-can-learn-from-china-about-covid-19/" target="_blank">COVID-19 pandemic</a> has exposed the incapacity of governments and the international community to address a health emergency on this scale. While we were assured that we have the technology and resources to respond, the coronavirus has shown either that we had misplaced our trust on scientific advances, or that our technological capabilities have not been oriented in the right direction.
As Nepal’s first test-tube babies conceived through IVF technology, us twins are products of technological advances in medicine and healthcare. Science was a boon to our family, and technology bestowed its gift on us.
In other fields of medicine, technology has allowed researchers to find cures and treatments to chronic diseases, and to develop remote monitoring systems through improved connectivity. However, information technology has not been fully exploited in addressing curative and therapeutic aspects of medicine.
<a href="https://www.nepalitimes.com/opinion/newborn-deaths-and-a-vision-for-a-post-pandemic-nepal/" target="_blank">Newborn deaths and a vision for a post-pandemic Nepal,</a> Marty Logan
The inability to prioritise family and community health on a global scale and the inability of medical technology with epidemiology and non-pharmaceutical public health measures has cost us dearly. The current pandemic has exposed flaws in what we considered an advanced state of medicine.
The <a href="https://www.nepalitimes.com/opinion/what-is-novel-about-the-novel-coronavirus/" target="_blank">novel coronavirus outbreak</a> is not the first, nor will it be the last. There have been even more deadly, uncontrolled epidemics in history like the Black Death that wiped out half of Europe’s population, or the Spanish Flu of 1918 that killed up to 40 million people, half of them in India. More recently there was the SARS outbreak in 2003 and the influenza subtype H1N1 and the MERS epidemic in 2013.
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The real question is: with all our expertise in epidemiology and genetics why did scientists not foresee this one coming? Partly, it is because technological advances and the budgets to fund research into Artificial Intelligence and even viral research is skewed in favour of military applications. The remaining resources go to space exploration. Finding vaccines and cures for diseases that afflict poorer countries, like malaria and tuberculosis, are neglected.
<a href="https://www.nepalitimes.com/banner/pandemic-pangs/" target="_blank">Pandemic pangs</a>, Nepali Times
Before this pandemic arose, governments of rich countries felt it was a Chinese problem that could not threaten their shores. There was a failure of the political leadership in rich countries engrossed with endless growth, geopolitical rivalry, and weapons research to take it seriously. Just as populist leaders denied climate change, they also ignored scientists warning about the potential of this deadly virus to spread.
The neglect is now most tragically seen in the acute shortage of medical equipment from the very basic N95 masks to personal protective equipment and ventilators. Countries that were once considered to have the best healthcare systems have been most vulnerable to treat and contain the scourge.
COVID-19 has also exposed that nation states operate in the self-interest, ignoring international cooperation, first try to protect their borders and compete for scarce medical supplies. The pandemic should teach us the lesson that that is not a one-off crisis -- we ignore nature at our own peril. The virus has learnt to use human hosts networked with global air travel to spread across the planet, it does not respect national boundaries.
No doubt, the spread of the virus will proceed towards a gradual decline in the total global case load. There is a danger that we will forget the lessons from it as things return to normal, the global economy springs back, and air travel resumes.
<a href="https://www.nepalitimes.com/latest/climate-covid-19-and-china/" target="_blank">Climate, COVID-19 and China</a>, Rastraraj Bhandari
The world must converge towards rapid, efficient advancement of technology services through a sound healthcare system and distribution at the community level. Convergence in healthcare means bringing together advances in IT, AI, bio-medical sciences and genetic studies, and using digital platforms to link citizens remotely to medical institutions. &nbsp;Epidemiological tools like HealthMap, VivaLNK, and platforms like WeChat, Alipay, and QQ have been used in containing the coronavirus, but they need to be spread more extensively.
A potent chain of command and decentralisation of health authorities is &nbsp;integral in responding to such outbreaks, but the way the current pandemic is being dealt with at the local, national and global level have left many of our generation skeptical. We cannot pin our hopes on the present health system, and our futures are uncertain.
This inability to rely on governments during such a dangerous pandemic &nbsp;leads us to conclude that enhancing individual immunity of the body, and thinking globally about the response to future outbreaks is the only way.
For Nepal, this means strengthening self-resilience at the national level, having preparedness plans in place, enhancing the healing power of nature, and ensuring that medical care is more equitable.
Yugeshwor Koirala and Yugottam Koirala are twin brothers, Nepal’s first to be born through in vitro fertilisation (IVF). They are students of Kaasthamandap Vidhyalaya.
<div class="embed-block"><img src="https://superdesk-pro-c.s3.amazonaws.com/sd-nepalitimes/2022110912118/636b8a269c7e80680e06b226jpeg.jpg" alt="" width="132" height="95"></div>

A pandemic that must shake us into action

<img src="https://superdesk-pro-c.s3.amazonaws.com/sd-nepalitimes/20221109101156/636b79569c7e80680e0646f9jpeg.jpg" alt="" width="640" height="349"/>In an address to nation on Friday evening, Nepal’s Prime Minister K P Oli announced further restrictions on travel, including a ban on all international flights between 22-31 March.The prime minister, who himself is recovering from a second kidney transplant two weeks ago, also said all long-distance public buses within Nepal would stop operating from 23 March for an indefinite period.In an address that many had speculated would announce a nationwide lockdown, Oli also exhorted Nepalis not to hold large gatherings and to restrict all non-essential movement.<iframe style="border: none; overflow: hidden;" src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/video.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fwatch%2F%3Ft%3D2%26v%3D669242147237558&amp;width=500&amp;show_text=false&amp;appId=975519809274828&amp;height=500" width="500" height="500" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe>On Wednesday Nepal had already announced the stoppage of all passengers arriving by air from Europe and West Asia, including transit passengers. But that ban did not include airlines flying to Chinese and Indian cities, Bangkok and Singapore from Kathmandu. Now, even those flights will stop operating from Sunday.The flight restriction coincides with India also announcing a ban on all international flights for the same time period. While inter-city bus routes are going to stop from Monday, Oli did not mention a ban on domestic flights within Nepal.<img src="https://superdesk-pro-c.s3.amazonaws.com/sd-nepalitimes/20221109101156/636b79599c7e80680e0646fajpeg.jpg" alt="" width="640" height="427"><img src="https://superdesk-pro-c.s3.amazonaws.com/sd-nepalitimes/20221109101156/636b795c9c7e80680e0646fbjpeg.jpg" alt="" width="640" height="427"><img src="https://superdesk-pro-c.s3.amazonaws.com/sd-nepalitimes/20221109101156/636b795f9c7e80680e0646fcjpeg.jpg" alt="" width="640" height="427"><img src="https://superdesk-pro-c.s3.amazonaws.com/sd-nepalitimes/20221109101156/636b79629c7e80680e0646fdjpeg.jpg" alt="" width="640" height="427"><img src="https://superdesk-pro-c.s3.amazonaws.com/sd-nepalitimes/20221109101156/636b79669c7e80680e0646fejpeg.jpg" alt="" width="640" height="427"><img src="https://superdesk-pro-c.s3.amazonaws.com/sd-nepalitimes/20221109101156/636b79699c7e80680e0646ffjpeg.jpg" alt="" width="640" height="427">From clockwise: Devotees in Jame Masjid don mask for their Friday prayers. Amidst COVID-19 scare people in Kathmandu stock up on face masks. Ticket counter in Gongabu buspark is crowded with people trying to buy tickets to leave for their villages. Local organisations and students raise awareness about hand washing and coronavirus pandemic. Photos: BIKRAM RAIOli also said there would be special health surveillance at the only four border checkpoints that are allowed between India and Nepal. The prime minister also issued a strong warning to hoarders and black marketeers who create artificial shortages.“I am aware of the difficulties faced by Nepalis abroad about returning home, I ask them to keep in touch with our diplomatic missions abroad,” Oli said in the live tv broadcast from his residence in Baluwatar.

All Nepal flights cancelled 22-31 March

Nepal’s only international aviation gateway, at Kathmandu airport, will cut night-time operation hours to allow construction of taxiways, and airlines have been told to curtail flights. This is expected to lead to more than normal chaos during the height of peak autumn and spring tourist seasons at an airport that is congested even at the best of times. The airport will close from 10PM to 8AM from 8 November-31 March 2025. The taxiways will now connect to the thresholds at both ends of the runway, making the airport more efficient in handling higher frequencies of landings and takeoffs. The parallel taxiway extension will allow international flights to land every 4 minutes instead of the current every 7 minutes. At present planes have to wait to land until a plane taking off backtracks along the runway.&nbsp; Kathmandu is Nepal’s only airport with international operations, and it has only one runway that is only one way in from the south over the mountains. With the taxiway improvement, the airport will be able to handle 42 aircraft landings and takeoffs per hour — double the current capacity.&nbsp; The Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN) has been trying to entice international airlines to also start flying to and from the other two international airports at Pokhara and Bhairawa (Lumbini) by slashing landing and handling charges. But so far only Nepal Airlines operates a weekly flight to Bhairawa from Kuala Lumpur.  <figure> <img src="https://publisher-publish.s3.eu-central-1.amazonaws.com/pb-nepalitimes/swp/asv65r/media/20241018161016_046569e53d1d66cd445cc66c697c0ef724810aec9f54bdf827481e3cd6b80c32.jpg" data-media-id="editor_0" data-image-id="20241018161016_046569e53d1d66cd445cc66c697c0ef724810aec9f54bdf827481e3cd6b80c32" data-rendition-name="original" width="2356" height="1134" loading="lazy" alt="Kathmandu airport expansion"> <figcaption>Kathmandu Airport Expansion plan with extension of taxiways to the thresholds of runways 02 and 20 that will limit airport operations from 8 November 2024 - 31 March 2025. Areas in blue are existing structures, including the international terminal which in future will be the domestic airport, and the new international terminal near the north end of the runway,</figcaption> </figure>   <figure> <img src="https://publisher-publish.s3.eu-central-1.amazonaws.com/pb-nepalitimes/swp/asv65r/media/20241018121028_6e17cc2ee87c1b02d78cb54905825b7aa15299b7a00f5eddb01a59579ab85c1a.jpg" data-media-id="editor_1" data-image-id="20241018121028_6e17cc2ee87c1b02d78cb54905825b7aa15299b7a00f5eddb01a59579ab85c1a" data-rendition-name="original" width="1353" height="1328" loading="lazy" alt="Kathmandu airport NT"> </figure>  CAAN has reportedly told international airlines to cut their flight frequency to Kathmandu citing the shorter operation hours and has told budget airlines to shift some of their flights to Pokhara or Bhairawa, or face cuts. Many airlines currently operate regular flights to and from Kathmandu between 10PM and 8AM: Air Arabia to Sharjah, Fly Dubai to Dubai, Jazeera Airways to Kuwait, Cathay Pacific to Hong Kong, Singapore Airlines, several Nepal Airlines flights, and one of four daily flights by Qatar Airways to Doha. Jazeera Airways, FlyDubai, and Thai AirAsia have applied and got permission from CAAN to begin regular flights to Bhairawa’s Gautam Buddha International Airport. Starting 9 November, FlyDubai will start making a stopover in Bhairawa before flying on to Kathmandu. Immigration, customs and security are all fully functional in Bhairawa. In Kathmandu, the next phase of the airport upgrade includes converting the current international terminal for domestic operations, the construction of a new international terminal where the domestic departure area is now, as well as moving the hangars and the Nepal Army Air Wing to the eastern side of the runway. The apron area will also double its parking space for widebody jets. This is part of a Airport Capacity Enhancement Project that was initially funded through a $80 million loan from the Asian Development Bank (ADB), and the entire masterplan is expected to cost $800 million. This project is the latest upgrade to Nepal’s only international airport since it saw its first flight in 1949. The current international and domestic terminals are too small to handle the current annual traffic volume of 8.5 million passengers a year that is growing at 20% a year.

Kathmandu airport to cut flight hours

As Kathmandu becomes more congested and polluted, and with remote online work becoming the norm, many professional Nepalis are planning to retire in Pokhara, or move there.&nbsp; With its stunning mountain panorama, balmy winters and proximity to a profusion of wilderness areas, builders are responding to this demand with new townhouses, housing development and apartments. One such block of flats is the 10-storey <a href="https://sungavaapartment.com/">Sungava Apartment</a> located at Phulbari above the Seti River, near the point where it flows into and under Pokhara. The imposing structure near Manipal Hospital is almost complete, and on a recent visit the site was strewn with huge boulders unearthed while digging the foundation.&nbsp; The Seti brought down these boulders during a gigantic flood that geologists estimate happened 800 years ago when a chunk of Annapurna IV broke off and ploughed into the glacier below. Today, Sungava (means ‘orchid’) sits safely on a high terrace, 100m above the blue-green Seti and commands a view of Dhaulagiri, Annapurna South, Machapuchre, Annapurna III and IV.&nbsp;  <figure> <img src="https://publisher-publish.s3.eu-central-1.amazonaws.com/pb-nepalitimes/swp/asv65r/media/2024102411104_5f8fc736c86ea3c08d7bef43bb727081d3cc1a2caa55ae2b441717e6044de7e9.jpg" data-media-id="editor_1" data-image-id="2024102411104_5f8fc736c86ea3c08d7bef43bb727081d3cc1a2caa55ae2b441717e6044de7e9" data-rendition-name="original" width="2016" height="1512" loading="lazy" alt="High living below the Himalaya NT"> </figure>  The soil here is conglomerate that has solidified like concrete, and the boulders were extracted by heavy earthmovers. It is intriguing to think that these metamorphic rocks as big as cars, rounded by glacial grinding, were once a part of a much higher Annapurna IV. Even for those with little interest in geology, Sungava is an ideal place to contemplate the tectonic forces that pushed these peaks into the sky to be sculpted into delicate shapes by wind, snow, earthquake and avalanche over millions of years. The view of the Himalayan panorama from Sungava’s many balconies are breathtaking when not obscured by clouds, or the haze that drifts in from across the southern border. On most days, just watching the towering pyramid of Machapuchre (Tamu name: कतासुँ क्लिको) play hide and seek with the clouds is mesmerising. There are rocks aplenty at Phulbari, and it is probably the flowers that grew along the flat terraces e that gave the place its flowery name. The boulders will hopefully be turned into a rock garden while landscaping. An nearby restaurant complex is making the best use of the stones in its design, using flat rocks as outdoor benches and tables. Sungava was designed by the husband-wife architect team of Deepak Sherchan and Jyoti Joshi of <a href="https://thedarkmermaidamarbshrestha.blogspot.com/2013/12/creative-builders-collaborative-cbc.html">Creative Builders Collaborative (CBC)</a>, which also built Heritage Plaza, Indreni Apartment and numerous other projects in Nepal. Sadbhavana retains CBC’s trademark Newari-style masonry and here it borrows from the orange brickwork of the old town of Pokhara, integrating it with modern design elements. A few of those heritage houses are still standing in Ganesh Tole and Ram Krishna Tole in Pokhara’s old quarter.  <figure> <img src="https://publisher-publish.s3.eu-central-1.amazonaws.com/pb-nepalitimes/swp/asv65r/media/2024102411108_5eb64a4885961b6d30781cefeb1e8a313da313ac5227c7a66b60f0c7d48d6fab.jpg" data-media-id="editor_3" data-image-id="2024102411108_5eb64a4885961b6d30781cefeb1e8a313da313ac5227c7a66b60f0c7d48d6fab" data-rendition-name="original" width="1362" height="595" loading="lazy" alt="High living below the Himalaya NT"> </figure>  About 400m from the apartment past a bend on the river, and down below three tiers of terraces in the canyon is a suspension bridge. Below it, the Seti is still swollen with post-monsoon flow as it tumbles away in a hurry to head down south.&nbsp; Back at the apartment, it is quiet, far away from the hubbub of Lakeside a 15 minute drive away, and in the lap of greenery. There are 52 units at Sungava and it already has a close-knit prospective community of professionals, including doctors, publishers, engineers, and businesspeople from the renewable energy and IT sectors.&nbsp; Some residents say they opted for a second home in Pokhara to make it a ‘base camp’ to explore the Annapurnas with its many hiking trails made newly accessible with new roads. With the NRN citizenship law, overseas Nepalis can now also buy the flats. &nbsp; The floor plans include options for north and south-facing 3-bedroom apartments with verandas, and the facility has underground parking has EV charging, heated pool, sauna and gym. There are still some unsold apartments with panoramic views of the mountains and one can imagine oneself at the kitchen with its huge window, humming a ditty while preparing breakfast: “खाना पकाउँ हिमाल हेरेर...”

High living below the Himalaya

When the United Nations held its Summit of the Future at its headquarters in New York in September, many world leaders, including Nepal’s Prime Minister K P Oli, highlighted the effect of climate breakdown in increasing the frequency and intensity of natural disasters. What did not get as much attention was the long term impact of the climate crisis on food production. In fact, heat stress, weather extremes and the consequences on rain-fed agriculture is already being felt worldwide, undermining the chances of the <a href="https://unstats.un.org/sdgs/">UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)</a> being met by 2030.&nbsp; The SDG’s 17 targets commit countries like Nepal to reduce poverty and inequality, end malnutrition, protect the natural environment, and ensure that citizens all enjoy health, justice and prosperity without leaving anyone behind.&nbsp; However, besides the impact of climate breakdown on agricultural production, in Nepal the area under cultivation is impacted by urban expansion, falling productivity and the need for expensive inputs like fertiliser and pesticides.  <figure> <img src="https://publisher-publish.s3.eu-central-1.amazonaws.com/pb-nepalitimes/swp/asv65r/media/20241019041052_626413c5baf4dae407ac9579231b41daeb51510aa636b75aeb7489d94cca6a62.jpg" data-media-id="editor_1" data-image-id="20241019041052_626413c5baf4dae407ac9579231b41daeb51510aa636b75aeb7489d94cca6a62" data-rendition-name="original" width="999" height="1500" loading="lazy" alt="urban agriculture in Kathmandu"> <figcaption>Kathmandu's urban sprawl is eating into its fertile cultivable lands. Photo: TAYLOR MASON</figcaption> </figure>  Now, a new study led by Nepali researcher Prajal Pradhan at the University of Groningen in The Netherlands looks at how urban agriculture may offer a solution to falling food production and meeting SDG targets. The researchers evaluated 1,450 publications exploring the contributions of urban agriculture with both positive and negative effects, and published their findings in the journal Cells Report Sustainability. Urban agriculture can help achieve 17 SDGs, positively influencing 81 targets. However, it could also undermine 51 goals.&nbsp; Read also: <a href="https://nepalitimes.com/here-now/the-vanishing-land">The vanishing land</a>, Taylor Mason “Urban agriculture offers immense potential for sustainable development, but realising this potential depends crucially on adopting practices that minimise its adverse effects while maximising its benefits,” Pradhan explains. Urban agriculture can substantially enhance urban food security, provide employment to the urban poor, serve as ground water recharge in built-up areas, and preserve open spaces that can serve as safe havens during disasters like earthquakes. However, it also presents problems like the potential health risks from contamination and the need for expensive inputs. &nbsp; “Urban agriculture plays a definitive role in advancing the SDGs, but achieving this requires tailored, context-specific solutions that address the unique challenges of different regions,” says Yuanchao Hu of Wuhan University in China and who is a researcher at the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research. “But it needs equitable access and rigorous management of environmental risks.”&nbsp; Rapid urbanisation is eating into Nepal’s most fertile agricultural land, which means farming in remaining open spaces inside cities can be a viable alternative, especially as food prices rise.  <figure> <img src="https://publisher-publish.s3.eu-central-1.amazonaws.com/pb-nepalitimes/swp/asv65r/media/20241019041052_7b7c9413086226fbdc630d45acf772cfa1ced77a8970b9056ec5ec7e5226fdf8.jpg" data-media-id="editor_3" data-image-id="20241019041052_7b7c9413086226fbdc630d45acf772cfa1ced77a8970b9056ec5ec7e5226fdf8" data-rendition-name="original" width="1500" height="999" loading="lazy" alt="urban agriculture in Kathmandu"> <figcaption>A vegetable patch in between new houses in Thimi. Photo: TAYLOR MASON</figcaption> </figure>  “The conversion of Nepal’s most fertile land into cities is a severe problem,” Pradhan told Nepali Times. “Crop cultivation, horticulture, agroforestry, beekeeping, livestock rearing, or aquaculture can all be farming activities within and around cities.”&nbsp; The study makes recommendations for sustainable practices that build on the positive aspects of urban agriculture while mitigating the downsides, thereby promoting more resilient cities in future. Research shows that urban agriculture has been helping many countries attain SDG targets by enhancing food security and biodiversity while helping education and preservation of open spaces.&nbsp; Indeed, many farmers from the hinterland who have settled in Kathmandu Valley or other urban areas of the country have been practicing urban agriculture, leasing neighbourhood patches or cultivating roof gardens both out of necessity because of inflation and falling income to grow their own food, and also as a fulfilling hobby. Saurav Dhakal, a sustainability advocate with Story Cycle and now research fellow at the Asian Institute of Technology in Thailand, says there are socio-economic and environmental benefits of urban agriculture. “It provides benefits to all urban dwellers, regardless of their income status,” says Dhakal, “families get fresh food, and there are many other benefits like water retention, heat regulation and biodiversity. These are all public goods, so special government incentives may be needed.” It is not unusual to see vegetable patches and even paddy fields within inner city Kathmandu where an older generation of farmers are using available fertile land and <a href="https://archive.nepalitimes.com/article/Nepali-Times-Buzz/rooftop-gardens-kathmandu,1415">roof gardens to produce fresh, nutritious food </a>to reduce their dependence on food items that have to be bought after being trucked in from large distances.  <figure> <img src="https://publisher-publish.s3.eu-central-1.amazonaws.com/pb-nepalitimes/swp/asv65r/media/2024101905100_1291ce98dbbb8caed8702ac4b1d469b3e13016d7ecaaf3bfd5f91c974d3c0c77.jpg" data-media-id="editor_5" data-image-id="2024101905100_1291ce98dbbb8caed8702ac4b1d469b3e13016d7ecaaf3bfd5f91c974d3c0c77" data-rendition-name="original" width="1500" height="999" loading="lazy" alt="urban agriculture in Kathmandu"> <figcaption>An older generation of farmers are using any available fertile land to continue farming but it is getting more and more difficult. Photo: TAYLOR MASON </figcaption> </figure>  Nepal’s urban population grew rapidly from only 3.6% in 1991 to 25% today. There is large outmigration from the mountains to peri-urban areas of the Tarai, to Kathmandu Valley and Pokhara, with many young men then moving abroad for work. Kathmandu Valley’s population has swelled to nearly 3 million, and is growing at 6.5% a year. Dilip Shrestha, 71, used to work for Nepal Food Corporation, so he knew firsthand about inflation, shortages and vegetables with pesticide residue. So, when he designed his new house in Kathmandu, he built a spacious roof where he grows cucumber, ginger, garlic, coriander, onions, tomatoes, chili, beans, okra, pumpkin and lettuce. His family eats healthier, and he has reduced dependence on the market.&nbsp; The co-author of the Cell Reports Sustainability journal article, Daya Raj Subedi who is a PhD candidate at Beijing Forestry University, says urban agriculture also promotes inclusion and psycho-social wellbeing.&nbsp; He says, “A crucial finding of the study is the identification of opportunities and challenges associated with urban agriculture, it can promote sustainable transformation of society.” In Banepa, 55-year-old Bijaya Manandhar in her lifetime has watched the fertile farms of her neighbourhood that used to supply vegetables to Kathmandu, now completely built up with no open space left. The pandemic lockdown prompted her to turn to the family’s <a href="https://nepalitimes.com/banner/rooftop-agriculture-on-the-roof-of-the-world">ancestral livelihood by growing food</a> not on terrace farms, but on the roof terrace. Manandhar is now a part of <a href="https://nepalitimes.com/banner/rooftop-agriculture-on-the-roof-of-the-world%5C%5C">कौसी खेती र करेसाबारी क्रान्ती</a> (Rooftop Farming and Garden Revolution) which has an online membership of 52,000, and awards annual prizes to women who excel in urban agriculture.&nbsp;  <figure> <img src="https://publisher-publish.s3.eu-central-1.amazonaws.com/pb-nepalitimes/swp/asv65r/media/20241019041052_7257f5def8f823f35a799fa6f6825e153f2ffa406ac11325d4fe74049b79e96d.jpg" data-media-id="editor_8" data-image-id="20241019041052_7257f5def8f823f35a799fa6f6825e153f2ffa406ac11325d4fe74049b79e96d" data-rendition-name="original" width="1600" height="736" loading="lazy" alt="urban agriculture in Kathmandu"> <figcaption>Rooftop farming is gaining popularity as a form of urban agriculture. </figcaption> </figure>   <figure> <img src="https://publisher-publish.s3.eu-central-1.amazonaws.com/pb-nepalitimes/swp/asv65r/media/20241019041052_beff1a4494ce896dd8fd383ee1f518e5448bcf7ea8bb138255391c7bcb9769ed.jpg" data-media-id="editor_9" data-image-id="20241019041052_beff1a4494ce896dd8fd383ee1f518e5448bcf7ea8bb138255391c7bcb9769ed" data-rendition-name="original" width="4000" height="3000" loading="lazy" alt="urban agriculture in Kathmandu"> </figure>  Pradhan says the challenge now is to upscale such examples of successful urban agricultural practices so they support Neal’s efforts to meet SDG targets. He adds, “Crop cultivation around cities can be protected by land use plans and regulations. Promoting community-based agriculture, including rooftop gardens, requires community engagement and public-private partnerships across the food value chain.”&nbsp; Such support would accelerate the popularity of existing rooftop farming and community gardens in Kathmandu Valley, or kitchen garden initiatives in Pokhara, and building on traditional farming practices that are preserved and integrated into urban settings like in Bhaktapur and Banepa. In Lalitpur, the Women Entrepreneurship Facilitation Center promotes urban farming enhancing both sustainability and empowerment.&nbsp; Another co-author of the report, Yuanchao Hu from China says followup research of the team will aim to identify good practices in local urban agriculture practices. He adds, “There are examples of urban agriculture that optimise sustainability, ensuring that it remains a viable solution for cities globally while countries try to meet SDG targets.” Prajal Pradhan, Daya Raj Subedi, Kshitij Dahal, Yuanchao Hu, Prakriti Gurung, Sijal Pokharel, Sagar Kafle, Biplav Khatri, Sudeeksha Basyal, Monika Gurung, and Aruna Joshi. Urban Agriculture matters for sustainable development. Cell Reports Sustainability, 1:100217, 2024. [DOI: 10.1016/j.crsus.2024.100217] Prajal Pradhan (<a href="mailto:p.pradhan@rug.nl">p.pradhan@rug.nl</a>) This article is brought to you by <a href="https://nepalitimes.com/" target="_blank">Nepali Times</a>, in collaboration with <a href="https://inpsjapan.com/en/" target="_blank">INPS Japan</a> and <a href="https://sgi-peace.org/" target="_blank">Soka Gakkai International</a>, in consultative status with UN ECOSOC.  <figure> <img src="https://publisher-publish.s3.eu-central-1.amazonaws.com/pb-nepalitimes/swp/asv65r/media/20240630110640_30c3782f9c09219bf1c249b51483a3cfb7a53a06d117d2aebd23ca7080d12758.jpg" data-media-id="editor_14" data-image-id="20240630110640_30c3782f9c09219bf1c249b51483a3cfb7a53a06d117d2aebd23ca7080d12758" data-rendition-name="original" width="680" height="103" loading="lazy" alt="SDG logo"> </figure>

Back to the land in the cities

The 700-year-old Lakshmi Narasingha temple in Bhaktapur houses a rare half-lion and half-human incarnation of Lord Vishnu carrying the Goddess Lakshmi. The temple was destroyed in the 1934 mega earthquake that killed 10,000 people and destroyed many monuments in Kathmandu Valley. It was rebuilt by a German project in the 1980s, but as a single-storey structure instead of its original two-tier pagoda design.&nbsp; With new findings from in-depth research, Bhaktapur municipality began re-restoring the temple in 2021, preserving its original architecture.  <figure> <img src="https://publisher-publish.s3.eu-central-1.amazonaws.com/pb-nepalitimes/swp/asv65r/media/20241017131016_2fae38cce543ad7b1f6de632feb3e212e08ed1acedd747830e949d7b8e878f18.jpg" data-media-id="editor_0" data-image-id="20241017131016_2fae38cce543ad7b1f6de632feb3e212e08ed1acedd747830e949d7b8e878f18" data-rendition-name="original" width="2048" height="1365" loading="lazy" alt="In with the old in Nepal NT"> </figure>  “Our temples and heritage sites hold deep meaning. It is disheartening to witness how often they lose their original elements, whether by design or accident,” explains Kumar Chawal of the Consumer Committee of Bhaktapur. “There is a need to preserve our architecture and protect its historical value for future generations. Otherwise, we risk losing a vital part of our identity.” The Laksmi Narsingha restoration is similar to the Bhai Dega temple in Patan Darbar Square which also collapsed in 1934, but was rebuilt with a Moghul-style dome by the Rana government at the time. Only two months before the 2015 earthquake, heritage conservationists had started to rebuild Bhai Dega as the original three-tier based on early photographs. But priorities shifted when four other temples in the square were brought down by the 7.8M earthquake on 25 April 2015.&nbsp;  <figure> <img src="https://publisher-publish.s3.eu-central-1.amazonaws.com/pb-nepalitimes/swp/asv65r/media/20241017131016_697ea707d9ad163be5de5f2efbf5b70d3cab771adcc22f0fae6bf937c6cb0130.jpg" data-media-id="editor_1" data-image-id="20241017131016_697ea707d9ad163be5de5f2efbf5b70d3cab771adcc22f0fae6bf937c6cb0130" data-rendition-name="original" width="2048" height="1365" loading="lazy" alt="In with the old in Nepal NT"> </figure>  This showed how damage to monuments in Kathmandu Valley spanned from one earthquake to the next. Bhai Dega restoration remains half-complete to this day because money for its restoration ran out.&nbsp; Whereas Bhai Dega restoration was done by the Kathmandu Valley Preservation Trust with grants from western embassies and international foundations, in Bhaktapur it is the municipality itself that allocated the Rs30.7 million needed to restore the Lakshmi Narasingha temple. The expected date of completion is early 2025. The municipality and local communities are focusing on two main aspects: preserving the past and promoting localisation. The restoration team has designed a blueprint for the temple by using historical photographs and insights from older generations.  <figure> <img src="https://publisher-publish.s3.eu-central-1.amazonaws.com/pb-nepalitimes/swp/asv65r/media/20241017131016_182882fdc393c99e70d1d0490319e415229563666c4934e3a582426ebf00ca30.jpg" data-media-id="editor_2" data-image-id="20241017131016_182882fdc393c99e70d1d0490319e415229563666c4934e3a582426ebf00ca30" data-rendition-name="original" width="1200" height="560" loading="lazy" alt="In with the old in Nepal NT"> </figure>  “At first, the Lakshmi Narasingha temple had only one entrance, but during the demolition process, we uncovered the foundations of four doors. Now, we are restoring all of them. This is an example of how our ancient structures have changed over time, often without our knowledge,” says Chawal. “Constructing temples is not like building houses. They carry historical and spiritual values, which is why they hold a special place in our hearts,” he adds. By replicating ancient design elements and rebuilding the temple as accurately as possible to its original form, the team has stayed true to Bhaktapur’s soul. But the restoration also revived ancient techniques that were in danger of being forgotten, generating employment for woodcarvers, masons, and contractors. The community of Bhaktapur’s Gahiti neighbourhood near the famous Nyatapola Temple has also set aside specific days for locals to volunteer in the reconstruction work. This has encouraged young people to take pride in ownership of their heritage. Families have also supported the effort by donating funds for bells, the temple pinnacle, and other structural features to the temple.  <figure> <img src="https://publisher-publish.s3.eu-central-1.amazonaws.com/pb-nepalitimes/swp/asv65r/media/20241017131016_db850ec0c084cdbe54f65bee92dad2ad8122d20fd60ec87ec086fbb9d2f72bd6.jpg" data-media-id="editor_3" data-image-id="20241017131016_db850ec0c084cdbe54f65bee92dad2ad8122d20fd60ec87ec086fbb9d2f72bd6" data-rendition-name="original" width="2048" height="1365" loading="lazy" alt="In with the old in Nepal NT"> </figure>  “I feel at peace knowing I have contributed my sweat to restoring this temple,” said one volunteer. “It is our duty to preserve our temples and heritage. The Nyatapola area will look magical once this temple is completed.” Community mobilisation is a long-standing tradition in Bhaktapur. In the past, locals have actively participated in the restoration of other temples in the city, such as Bhairav and Nyatapola fostering a strong sense of ownership. This collective engagement has not only been crucial in preserving the city's historical monuments but also in strengthening the bond between local communities and their heritage, says officials at the municipality. While securing funding is essential, and the municipality showed it values heritage conservation, the Lakshmi Narasingha restoration is proof that active involvement and sense of responsibility of the local community is as important, if not more. Local involvement also means that the monuments will be cared for into the future, When locals take ownership of these efforts, the restored monuments are not only protected in the present but are also cared for in the future.

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