A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirement for the degree of Master of Science

Thesis (M.Sc.) - Asian Institute of Technology

The thrust on a sustainable approach to development planning has been geared to correct the course of conventional planning through proper inclusion of ecological considerations. Hence, the reorientation towards sustainability necessitates a deliberate emphasis on the integration of economic, social and environmental considerations in a single planning framework. This entails a radical departure from the present course of development planning and demands development partners' strong adherence to and a convergent perception of the principles of sustainability. Nepal, at the verge of radical egress, requires first-hand information pertaining to this issue. To answer the aforementioned quest for integration of policies, Gale's model was adopted with proper modification and amendments. A sample survey carried out in two Village Development Committee areas of the lower Daraundi watershed, complemented by proper scrutiny of local level implementors, academic and policy-level sector experts rendered strong to moderate adherence of development partners to the issue of sustainability and detected room for improvements whereby the integration of policies could be facilitated. It also ascertained that the outlook of the sectors are not similar with a view to the perceived integration of policies through reorientation. The antithetical responses, in most cases, resulted from lacunae in understanding the concept pertaining to the principle of sustainability, skepticism about sustainable reorientation, unwillingness to accept trade-off and inability to cope with the radicality that sustainable development calls for. Dissimilar views are the outcome of paucity in utilization of platforms for joint efforts, existing patron-client relationship, divergence of sustainable goals, doubts of economic rationality and lack of functional interrelationship. Although it became evident from the research findings that perfect realization of sustainability is improbable which the present thrust on development is driving at, there exists sufficient momentum through which effective mitigative measures can be designed to increase the level of adherence and narrow down the existing gap between the sectors involved in the arena of development.