Himalayan Geology

One of the major talk in the town last year was Kathmandu’s natural gas due to internal and external political situation. Most of the people of Kathmandu don’t know the existence and distribution of this gas through pipe lines in the past. Here’s the short detail about the Kathmandu Gas.

The Kathmandu natural gas (mainly Methane) reservoir is contained in the unconsolidated sedimentary deposits of the valley containing organic material. This is “dissolved in water type” natural gas, occurs in the fluvio-lacusterine sediment of quaternary age in the Kathmandu valley. The natural gas deposits of Kathmandu Valley have been studied by many national & International experts, the most prominent being Indian, Chinese & Japanese. Oil and Gas commission of India studied in 1964 and reported that the gas is confined to small sand lenses and not useful from an economic point of view. Similarly a Chinese Petroleum investigation team made a study in 1973. They also reported that the deposit had no industrial importance. However, actual systematic exploration work was carried out by the Department of Mines and Geology from 1978. The exploration work was initiated in collaboration with JICA, the Japan International Cooperation Agency. On the basis of geology, borehole, resistivity and gravity data, an area of about 26 Sq. km has been delineated as gas prospective area with estimated reserve of about 300 million cubic meters. A pre-feasibility study has indicated that the estimated gas reserve of Kathmandu valley, if used, can meet the energy demand of 20,000 people for more than 50 years (0.75cu.m/day/family). The gas prospective area is divided into three blocks.

In order to confirm the deposit, an initial test well was drilled to a depth of 300 meters at Tripureswore in 1980. The results obtained from the test well were quite encouraging and subsequently two more similar type test wells were drilled in 1983 in Teku area. A model gas plant of 500 cubic meters capacity was made with the connection to these three wells in Teku, Pachali with UNDP/JICA financial and technical support in 1983. The natural gas was supplied from this model plant to the nearby government offices and hospital complexes on an experimental basis through the underground PVC pipelines. The supply was continuous for 8 years until it faced technical problem and political situation. Till now 14 test wells have been completed within the 26 sq. km. area in Kathmandu Valley.

Furthermore, reassessment of the deposit of natural gas in Kathmandu Valley is needed since, the report we are taking is very old and at present days there are more than thousand deep boring wells that has been drilled which is resulting in reduction of the quantity of natural gas.

Presently, natural gas and coal section of Department of Mines and Geology is trying to renovate some old wells as well as planning to make one mobile mini model gas plant which can be taken anywhere as needed.

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Report on Post Disaster Need Assessment

(Halde Kalika Village Development Committee Nuwakot District, Nepal)

1)Prithvi Lal Shrestha (Senior Divisional Geologist/ Department of Mines & Geology)

2)Narayan Prasad Dahal (Account Officer / City Development

Office)

3)Khem Raj Bhatta (Amin / Survey Office)

1. BACK GROUND

After the great earthquake of 7.6 Ml (NSC/DMG) which rocked central Nepal with casualties more than eight thousand on 25 April 2015, our team of three members was appointed in my leadership for Post Disaster Need Assessment in Halde Kalika Village Development Committee of Nuwakot District. The team was appointed for one month from Government side. Final report is submitted to the District Disaster Relief Committee, Bidur.

2. OBJECTIVES

i) Take or help to take immediate relief action after gathering information on earthquake victims.

ii) Help to make Integrated Resettlement Plan for earthquake victims if needed.

iii) Help to reuse or reconstruct public structures after collecting data of damage from an earthquake.

iv) Help to reuse or reconstruct all physical structures after accomplishing Post Disaster Need Assessment.

3. METHODOLOGY

Our team members filled up data of damage in two formatted forms; one is “Basic Information on Damage of Individual Households” with direct interaction (face to face) with the house owner individually from about 1000 houses of all nine wards. And second, public structures like, schools/hospitals/Government offices/industries and college etc., was filled up in “Damage of Government/Public Structures” form with direct interaction with the local Government officials and local people.

Instruction was given to the people that whether they can stay or not in particular house/structure after inspecting damage condition.

4. FINDINGS ON THE SITE

The pictures of the villages are horrible and heart touching. Almost all houses are made of adobe type with mud and stone having weak holding capacity, which are totally damage. Even with some houses, seem to be fine from outside is damage from inside, where people can’t live. 25 people were dead and more than 100 injured found in this VDC.

5. PROBLEMS

Major problem with people in the site is totally damage houses and improper shelters to live. Some people have not received tents yet. They build temporary but poor shelters by using the materials from their damage houses. The cash money 7000 Nepalese rupees from the Government side is not completely distributed yet. Relief materials and food didn’t go to all people up to now. News of loot and vandalize is coming from some places. Cunning and clever people got relief materials many times, which indicates lack of monitoring and security from the Government side. Almost all schools are damage so students have problem to get education timely. In some places water sources dried up so people are facing with water problem. There will be major problem of landslides in the area where fractures are made due to earthquake, in near future since monsoon (rainy season) is ahead. This may cause more disaster.

Beside these, strong psychological effects have been seen mostly in children, women and old people.

6. POSSIBLE SOLUTION

Immediate solution for villagers is to manage temporary shelters or houses before monsoon starts. Relief distribution should be equal and as early as possible under Government supervision. Psychologists and doctors should be appointed to take care of the people affected from mental problem. To start classes in school, temporary shelter should be built, students should be taught with enjoyment environment and recreational way like, singing/dancing/playing for few weeks so that the negative effects due to an earthquake would be gone. The experts should be appointed in villages to interact and teach people that an earthquake is a natural phenomenon, which is neither stoppable nor predictable, but we can lessen the aftermath of it. This can bring people down of trauma from earthquake and live normal lives. Yes, people now are aware of making earthquake resistance houses but local government should also be strict in implementing building code and monitor regularly.

7. RESETTLEMENT PLAN

Resettlement or united habitat is not possible in this VDC due to geological inhomogeneity of this area. Almost all villages in this VDC are situated in hilly land and it has lack of open land. Cultivation practices are in hilly terrain. Every individual has their own house and land for cultivation so they are not interested to move to other place. Government or public land is forest, which is also situated in hilly land. These are the reasons why resettlement of the village is impossible in this VDC.

8. SUMMARY

This Halde Kalika VDC which is about 15 Km east from Bidur, a district headquarter of Nuwakot, is facilitate with transportation, electricity and communication but remote due to its geological condition. Rich in hilly and inhomogeneity terrain, this VDC has the houses mostly made up of mud and stone, which are vulnerable to earthquake, the result we already saw after the great earthquake. Main cultivation of this area is paddy, wheat, corn and ginger.

While collecting a data we didn’t face any problems. We achieved a goal in time due to help of local people and social workers. And, the guidance and viability of official materials from center time to time made our work easier. Our team wants to thank all the concerned people for this national task for their help and support.

9. PHOTOS