MoU signed between Ministries for long-term drinking water management
The agreement was signed today at the Ministry of Energy in the presence of Energy Minister Deepak Khadka and Drinking Water Minister Pradeep Yadav.
KATHMANDU: A significant agreement has been signed between the Ministry of Energy, Water Resources, and Irrigation, and the Ministry of Drinking Water for sustainable drinking water management.
The agreement was signed today at the Ministry of Energy in the presence of Energy Minister Deepak Khadka and Drinking Water Minister Pradeep Yadav.
The signing ceremony also saw the participation of Sarita Dawadi, Secretary of the Ministry of Water Resources and Irrigation, and Pramiladevi Bajracharya, Secretary of the Ministry of Drinking Water.
The agreement outlines the roles and responsibilities of each ministry in ensuring the long-term and sustainable management of water resources. The Ministry of Drinking Water will focus on ensuring equitable access to sufficient, safe drinking water, sanitation, and hygiene services, as well as conducting research and development in water supply and sanitation. On the other hand, the Ministry of Energy will work on the long-term planning of water resources, sustainable development, conservation, regulation, and the equitable distribution of water, alongside research and technological advancements related to water resources.
The agreement is in line with the provisions of the Constitution of Nepal, the Sustainable Development Goals, the Drinking Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene Policy of 2080, and the Drinking Water and Sanitation Act, 2079, which recognizes access to drinking water as a fundamental right. The aim is to ensure universal access to safe drinking water for all, contributing to the achievement of these objectives.
As part of the agreement, the Ministry of Drinking Water will provide information about future water requirements and sources for national priority projects, including those that need multi-use water sharing. The Ministry of Water Resources and Irrigation will ensure that the water supply to these projects does not interfere with the objectives of ongoing or future irrigation projects.
Additionally, the Ministry of Drinking Water will share information on systems that have not been operational due to water shortages, along with geospatial data, with the Ministry of Irrigation. The Ministry of Irrigation will, in turn, provide the required data on irrigation and multi-purpose projects to the Ministry of Drinking Water.
The agreement is set for ten years, with provisions for amendments, extensions, or changes upon mutual written consent from both ministries.
The event was also attended by Sanjeev Baral, Director General of the Department of Water Resources and Irrigation, and Ram Kumar Shrestha, Director General of the Department of Drinking Water and Sanitation, among others.
