Kathmandu, June 21: Kathmandu Valley Mapping Programme, a joint effort of Kathmandu Metropolitan City (KMC) and European Commission (EC), is conducting a massive socio-economic survey of the residents of the Kathmandu urban area In its bid to strengthen KMC in servie delivery and effective urban management, the Programme targets to cover almost twelve thousand households for the survey. This is stated in a press release issued by KVMP, today.

Besides the survey, the Programme also planning to implement Addressing System from the coming fiscal year in all wards of the Kathmandu MetropolitanCity. For this a detail work plan has already been prepared and is in the process of obtaining approval from KMC and Ministry of Physical Planning and Construction.

This was informed at the Project Co-ordination Committee meeting of the KVMP recently. Mayor of Kathmandu Municipal City (KMC) Keshav Sthapit chaired the meeting.

While informing about the progress made by the Programme, National Co-Director P.S. Joshi highlighted on various aspects of the Project. “Besides enhancing the capabilities of the KMC, the Programme also expects to promote the reduction in gender inequality and support opportunities for disadvantaged groups and the urban poor by carrying out specially focused activities,” Joshi pointed out, the press release said

The Programme has already initiated discussions with the major stakeholders of the Programme’s Mapping and GIS component and local consultants are preparing reports on them,” Joshi said. Tenders for necessary mapping and audio-visual equipments, computers and other instruments were also called and they are in the process of evaluation, he informed.

Addressing the meeting Mayor Sthapit highlighted on the need of joint effort between the KMC and the KVMP to address the emerging problems due to the rapid urbanization of the Kathmandu Valley.

All department heads of the KMC, KVMP’s European Co-Director Dr. V.E. Pareto and other officials of the Programme also participated at the meeting.