The government recently cleared illegal structures such as houses and sheds built by encroaching on government land along the Bagmati, Manohara, and Dhobikhola riverbanks and other areas in Kathmandu. There is public interest in how these vacated spaces will be utilized. This presents a valuable opportunity to develop Kathmandu into an environmentally clean and livable city in the long term. In a city like Kathmandu, where green open spaces are scarce, expanding greenery is the most cost-effective and quickly implementable solution.
Urban green spaces, including forests and vegetation-covered areas, are collectively known as ‘green zones’ or ‘urban forests.’ These encompass parks, road verges, riverbanks, office compounds, other public open spaces, and even private residential areas with trees, fruit plants, and grass or turf cover.
Cities renowned for their exceptional green spaces include Vancouver (Canada), Copenhagen (Denmark), Singapore, Vienna (Austria), and Amsterdam (Netherlands). Asian countries have also embraced green city initiatives, such as China’s forest cities, Singapore’s ‘City in a Garden,’ and Japan’s compact green city policies. Green spaces in urban areas are environmentally, economically, and socially significant. They help reduce temperatures, lower air pollution, provide shade, mitigate flood risks, promote biodiversity, enhance physical and mental health, and foster social connections.
Property values near parks or green areas are higher compared to other locations. Studies indicate that houses in tree-rich areas have values approximately seven percent higher, and those near parks can be worth up to twenty percent more. Residents living near green spaces recover from illnesses faster, and such areas have been found to support patients with Alzheimer’s and dementia. Additionally, social crimes, including theft, are less frequent in greener neighborhoods. Green spaces enhance a city’s beauty and bolster both domestic and international tourism. Therefore, as Kathmandu moves towards becoming a cleaner, greener, and more livable city, local authorities should create modern parks for sports, physical exercise, relaxation, and recreation on these cleared encroachment areas.
