Government working to strengthen early warning system: Energy Minister Khadka

Kathmandu, March 23 : Minister for Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation Deepak Khadka has said that the government is working to strengthen the forecasting and early warning system with the help of latest technology.    
    
Speaking at a program organized by the Water and Energy Commission Secretariat on the occasion of World Meteorological Day here this morning, he said that the government is working to strengthen the early warning system to save the lives of people at risk of disasters.    
    
Stating that the early warning system has been very successful in protecting people and their property from floods, Minister Khadka said that the government is expanding the use of IT, radar systems and satellite technology for rain and weather forecasting.     
    
Minister Khadka said it is a top priority of the government to protect glaciers, major source of Nepal's most hydropower projects, irrigation schemes and drinking water, and early warning systems will be strengthened and risk reduction measures forwarded to minimize the impact of climate change. "If proper preparations are not started now, considering the risks that may arise in the future, there may be a serious crisis in Nepal's water security in the future. Hence, we are working together with the international community to preserve the glaciers and minimize the impact of climate change," he said.    
    
With the support of the Green Climate Fund the government is going to install risk reduction and early warning systems in four more glaciers, including Lower Barun Glacier in Sankhuwasabha, Lumding and Hongu Glaciers in Solukhumbu, and Thulagi Glacier in Manang district. He also said that the government will implement the impact-based forecasting system in all provinces and river basins across the country in the future.    
    
Energy Minister Khadka also shared that the Hydrology and Meteorology Policy, 2081, has been formulated and implemented under the leadership of the ministry. He also expressed his commitment to prepare the new financial year budget keeping in mind the disaster-induced risks in the coming year.    
    
Secretary at the Ministry of Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation, Sarita Dawadi, said that the services of the Department of Hydrology and Meteorology will be further developed and expanded while Secretary of Water and Energy Commission Secretariat, Madhu Prasad Bhetwal, said that the government is taking forward various programs in the fields of hydrology and meteorological services, climate adaptation and glacier conservation in collaboration with various agencies. (RSS)