On Baisakh 12, 2080, a talk program was organized by Khwopa Engineering College (KhEC) and Khwopa College of Engineering (KhCE), the undertaking of Bhaktapur Municipality, to mark the sixth anniversary of the Gorkha Earthquake 2015. The program was well attended by students, faculty and staff members, and guests from different sectors.
The Chief Guest for the event was Prem Suwal, Member of Parliament and Secretary of Nepal Workers and Peasants' Party. In his address, he emphasized the need for balanced development of the country and the importance of developing small towns outside the Kathmandu valley. He also highlighted the risks associated with haphazard development of Kathmandu, which could increase the risk of damage from future disasters, especially from seismic hazard. He stressed the importance of well-planned cities with adequate open spaces to reduce such risks.
Regarding contemporary issues, Suwal stressed the need for the government of Nepal to provide sufficient jobs to the youth within the nation to prevent them from serving as cheap labor in foreign lands. He also emphasized the need for the nation to focus on self-dependence and reduce reliance on remittances.
The Chairman of the program, Sunil Prajapati, Mayor of Bhaktapur Municipality, and Chairman of the colleges, emphasized the importance of learning from the Gorkha Earthquake 2015. He highlighted the contributions made by both colleges before, during, and after the earthquake, including reconstruction and renovation of heritage structures damaged by the earthquake. The colleges have also been actively involved in conducting various academic exercises regarding the earthquake through research and publications. They have also organized national and international conferences regarding earthquake and post-disaster reconstruction.
Sujan Maka, Principal of Khwopa Engineering College, and Sunil Duwal, Principal of Khwopa College of Engineering, shed light on the planning for the following days and the jobs done by both colleges. Arch. Subik Kumar Shrestha (PhD), Er. Roshan Prajapati, and Er. Shubham Pyakurel (ME Earthquake Students and Research Assistants) provided a slide presentation on different issues regarding earthquake disaster study.