Urban Growth in the Northern Fringe of Kathmandu Valley : The Case of Dhapasi & Surrounding VDCs

Fringes represent the transition zone between urban areas and rural hinterland and are characterized by mixed land uses and ecologically fragile areas. Urban growth is spreading haphazardly from the inner cities towards the fringes leading to loss of agricultural land and open spaces and depletion of natural resources. The book focuses on the urban growth of 3 adjacent VDCs, Dhapasi, Gongabu, and Tokha Saraswoti, representing the northern fringe of Kathmandu Valley, which is considered ecologically important as it serves as the major recharge zone of the valley and was predominantly an agricultural area in the past. Due to the ease created by huge inexpensive barren land and weak governance, the private developers have focused recent development in the fringes in the form of planned housing. The study tries to access the planned housing against the owner built houses in mitigating the haphazard growth of the fringes. The book shall be especially useful to the private developers or urban planners who seek to initiate development in the fringes or anyone concerned with the effect of urban growth in the land use and environment of ecologically fragile areas.