Water security an emerging concern in Nepal

By A Staff Reporter

Kathmandu, Nov. 4: Water security has become a major concern for every sector in Nepal despite plenty of monsoon precipitation every rainy season. Demand for safe water increases in every part including agriculture, household and factories.

Despite the high demand for water supply, the country has very low water security, which is affecting agriculture productivity, industrial needs and safe drinking water as well as biodiversity conservation, said experts at a Multi-stakeholder Consultation organized by the International Water Management Institution (IWMI) on Thursday.

They said addressing water security requires an innovative approach and should be based on science. The experts emphasized that water security is also linked with climate-related activities, so it is necessary to solve the immediate problem and analyze the situation that may arise in the long run.

Speaking at the consultation, “Transformative Futures for Water Security (TFWS): Setting Priorities for Water Research, Knowledge and Innovation” Dr Manohara Khadka, country representative of IWMI-Nepal, said that water security is the key agenda for Nepal. 

“There should be an understanding about the use of water as it is linked with the whole ecosystem for survival,” she said. Efforts should be made to manage the potential water crisis by emphasizing the multilateral use of available resources, Dr Khadka added.

Addressing the current crisis, the initiative for a transformed future of water has been launched to prevent the situation from worsening, she said.

The consultation was organised in collaboration with the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), WaterAid, ICIMOD (International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development), Wind Power Nepal, Water Resources Department and Water Resources Study Centre.

Dr Bindu Nath Lohani, a Founding Board Member of the Asian Water Council, said that multilateral cooperation should be emphasized for water security by determining the bases of water-related research, knowledge and communication. 

Dr Lohani said, "When it comes to water security, it should be clear about water security in urban areas along with domestic water, the economic security of water and environmental aspects. Climate change has also added more stress on water security.” 

Keeping these things in mind, it is necessary to make policy and operational arrangements based on science, he said.

According to the latest report of the Inter-governmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), there is a deep link between water security and climate change. Climate change has affected the hydrological system of the earth and is making water security worse all over the world, the report has mentioned.

Dr Santosh Nepal, a scientist working at the IWMI, said that the dialogue on water security has emphasized that the existing water resources should be properly managed and used in multiple ways.

It has already been difficult to implement the concept of “Water for All”, he said. 

The condition of water use is poor in Nepal and the situation might be more difficult in the future due to climate change.