Post Earthquake:

People are packing up from Kathmandu 

RUDRA PANGENI

KATHMANDU, May 19

Madan Baral is living with his family in Kathmandu over ten years but now has made up his mind to return his hometown Biratnagar soon. The earthquake of April 25 and subsequent aftershocks is the push factor for Baral's family, living in Kaushaltar Bhaktapur in on rent as the couple found no reason to live in Kathmandu as their two sons have already migrated to USA and Australia.  Baral had migrated to the valley for the education of his sons. "Though we were in a pilgrimage in India during the first earthquake, but we felt insecure to live in Kathmandu anymore and our sons also suggested to return to our home," Baral told Republica. Baral retired from the job of Nepal Bank Limited two years ago was employed at a consultancy until January. "We have lots of belongings in the flat, and thinking of hiring vehicles to transport to Biratnagar," added Baral. 

Baral is not alone leaving Kathmandu after the disaster that rattled fiercely and people still fear buildings will again badly sway and shake anytime. Finding an open space even in the devastating disaster of like April 25 and at least three major aftershocks is hard in the core areas of the capital city.   

Khem Acharya, a traffic police deployed at Kalanki, said that a dozen families in average leaving Kathmandu everyday with all their belongings stuffed in trucks and Mahindra pick up vans after the earthquake. Only one or two families were seen leaving Kathmandu before the earthquake. Acharya assumed, "Many must have left Kathmandu after their rental rooms damaged or could not find safe rooms to shift. It is also believed that many chose to leave Kathmandu as finding rooms on rent is difficult as statistics says over 73,000 houses damaged by the earthquake and about half of them inhabitable damaged and others can only be inhabited after repairs.

Sight of vehicles including mini trucks carrying beds, kitchen utensils, furniture, wardrobes plying on the highways are common in recent days from the capital which accommodates about 2.51 million people and majority of the population are living on rent. Rooftops of the public buses returning from the valley also have motorcycles tied besides furniture and other belongings.

Valley drew hordes of people during Maoist Insurgency from all outside valley utill 2006 due to security reasons but it did not stop and continued unabated thereafter triggered by lack of decentralization of the governance and the plan of federal structure remained in limbo amid squabbling among the political parties.

Former Finance Secretary Rameshwore Khanal says that there are some pedestrian traders, small-time traders like Pan Pasale, barbers, hawkers and skilled workers in construction industry and fruit sellers particularly who hailed from Tarai, Bihar of India and western part are seen moving out of Kathmandu following the earthquake. Khanal added that the returnees are in the mindset that they can also earn in their hometown now. In the past, economic opportunity was the one of the main reason drawing people to the capital city from outside. Khanal also posted a facebook status "Seems like Kathmandu valley might lose two to three percent migrant population permanently."

According to Census of 2011, Kathmandu district posted a highest population growth rate in a decade with 60.90 percent from 2001 to 2011 and population density of 4408 per square kilometer. Kathmandu district has the highest percentage (58.65) of households living in rented flats and houses. However, Khanal says those in service sector and jobholders have returned to their hometowns temporarily but will return as finding their jobs out of Kathmandu valley is not possible quickly.

"Many may have migrated to the nearest towns from their home districts as there are also many services now like of education and health," said sociologist Chaitanya Mishra adding, however Kathmandu won't lose its economic charm. Some also may have left Kathmandu who do not have necessarily to live in Kathmandu. Mishra thinks that many have left Kathmandu temporarily for reunion with their family members at the time devastating disaster. Besides, economic opportunity and centralized health, education among other services also attracted many to the Kathmandu in the past. Population of Kathmandu also comprises mobile population as it is also a stopover for youths heading to migrant jobs.