KATHMANDU: Kathmandu Metropolitan City’s monitoring teams voiced concerns about weak interdepartmental coordination to Deputy Mayor Sunita Dangol during an interaction on Tuesday.
At a program organized by the Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation Unit, team coordinators highlighted various challenges hindering project implementation and oversight.
Architect Baburam Bhattarai, head of the heritage and physical infrastructure monitoring team, reported delays in heritage and infrastructure projects due to poor communication and coordination. He also noted issues with protecting completed projects due to local disputes and a lack of stakeholder consensus.
“Partners in the infrastructure sector are working independently, and mutual coordination is very weak,” Bhattarai stated.
Consultant Narayan Rijal, Managing Director of Paragon Engineering Consultancy and Research Center, suggested integrating environmental, social, and implementation aspects during physical plan design.
Urban Planning Commission member Dr. Suraj Kafle proposed an automated monitoring system to analyze data and provide conclusions. He also emphasized the need for clear roles and strengthened internal coordination within monitoring teams.
Saraswati Manandhar, coordinator of the Disaster Management and Environment Monitoring Team, called for timely completion of fire hydrant installations in narrow streets and advocated for source-based waste segregation.
Deepak KC, head of the Health Department, pointed to legal duplication complicating health sector monitoring and regulation. He called for clear legal delineation of monitoring and regulatory responsibilities.
Sumitra Subedi Lamichhane, head of the monitoring and evaluation unit, outlined plans to enhance cost-effectiveness by ensuring quality, adherence to schedules, and impact assessments.
Deputy Mayor Dangol pledged to ensure tangible improvements based on monitoring feedback. She committed to institutionalizing quality improvement through implementation plans, continuous monitoring, increased internal dialogue, and robust reporting systems.
“When designing physical infrastructure, pay attention to environmental aspects such as rainwater recharge and greenery promotion,” Dangol instructed department heads. “Problems seen in the region should be documented in the form of monthly reports, brought for discussion and based on that, solutions should be sought and moved forward.”
Urban Planning Commission Vice Chair Dr. Suman Narsingh Rajbhandari highlighted the importance of balancing regular and emergency monitoring, noting that in-progress projects offer more opportunities for improvement than completed ones.
The Metropolitan City’s monitoring and evaluation committee, led by Deputy Mayor Dangol, comprises seven members.
The city’s responsibilities are divided among three monitoring teams, each coordinated by Urban Planning Commission members. These teams monitor offices and projects within their respective jurisdictions.
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