नेपालको भू-बनोट सुहाउँदो, पर्यावरणमैत्री र दीर्घकालीन सडक पूर्वाधार
An interactive talk programme by Dr. Gareth Hearn, Geomorphologist
Scott Wilson Nepal organized an interactive talk programme on Sustainable Geo-engineering for Nepal’s Road Network in Kathmandu on 16 December 2025, with active participation from senior government officials, policy makers, and professionals from the Department of Roads (DoR), Department of Local Infrastructure Development (DoLID), Water and Energy Commission (WECS), Ministry of Physical Infrastructure and Urban Development of Karnali Province, FCDO, academia, and other institutions.
The technical session was led by Dr. Gareth Hearn, a globally respected engineering geomorphologist, who shared insights from over 40 years of experience on mountain roads in Nepal and worldwide. Drawing on recent field visits to the BP Highway, Dharan–Dhankuta Road, Mechi, and Araniko Highways of Nepal, he explained why some roads remain stable for decades while others repeatedly fail. The key message was clear: sustainable roads are achieved only when alignment and design respect natural terrain, geology, and drainage systems. This perspective must be viewed through multiple lenses, including the socioeconomics of vulnerable communities, and is increasingly critical amid accelerating climate change.
The discussion echoed a long-standing concern raised by Senior Geologist Prof. Dr. Megh Raj Dhital that Nepal’s challenge is not the absence of policies or guidelines, but an institutional gap in implementing proven practices, with too much focus on discussing landslides and too little investment in in-depth risk study and long-term mitigation.
The program reinforced the need for early geo-engineering involvement, serious landslide investigation, risk-based resilient design, and institutional commitment to build safer, more resilient roads, especially under changing climate conditions. Through engagement, we are taking significant steps toward ensuring safer roads for all residents in the region.
Featured photo and presentation slides by Dr. Gareth Hearn and event photos by Scott Wilson Nepal, 16 December 2025