KATHMANDU, July 20: Kathmandu-based non-profit organization ‘Smart WASH Solutions’ and Department of Water Supply and Sewerage Management(DWSSM) under the Ministry of Water Supply are set to jointly organize a National Conference on Rainwater Harvesting for Livelihood, Community and Ecosystem Resilience on July 27 and 28, 2019 in collaboration with different organizations.

Organizing a press conference in the capital on Saturday, the conference organizing committee informed that preparations for the conference have reached the final stage.

The conference is aimed at making concerned stakeholders aware of how to reduce the impact of floods and rain-triggered-landslides by collecting and utilizing rainwater to meet domestic water needs through effective management.

The conference will be attended by experts working in the related field from India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, South Korea and Nepal, according to the organizing committee.

Minister of Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation Barsha Man Pun is scheduled to inaugurate the conference.

A conference organizing committee composed of different representatives has been formed under the chairmanship of the chairperson of Smart WASH Solutions Ramdeep Sah. Likewise, a six-member technical committee entrusted with the responsibility of assessing and selecting conference papers has been formed under the leadership of Gunanidhi Paudel.  A management committee has also been formed under the leadership of the chairperson of the Smart WASH Solutions Sah.

Speaking at the press conference organized in the capital, Chairperson of Smart WASH Solutions said that it was impossible to address the problem of drinking water supply until rainwater was properly managed permanently.

“About 1.3 percent of total global population and 2.4 percent of rural population in developing countries meet the domestic needs for drinking water by collecting and utilizing rainwater,” claimed Shah.

Speaking at the conference, Sah also called for revival of Nepali tradition of collecting and utilizing rainwater that people belonging to the present generation are unaware of.

Uddhab Raj Khadka, Head of Central Department of Environment Science, Bimal Kedia, former lawmaker, and Hari Prasad Sharma, a director of Smart WASH Solutions also highlighted the importance of proper management of rainwater at the press conference.

They said that the conclusions drawn from the discussions during the conference would be shared with the local, provincial and federal governments.

 
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