Under the chairmanship of the Water and Energy Commission Secretariat (WECS) and The Small Earth Nepal (SEN) as the Secretariat of Nepal National Water and Weather Week (NNWWW) 2021, the World Water Day 2021 was celebrated on 22 March 2021 at Hotel Shanker, Kathmandu. The program brought together government officials, water professionals, and academicians to develop a mutual understanding of the water crisis and degrading water quality issues in the context of climate change, and the importance of institutional capacity building and research works for water resources management. The event was chaired by Mr. Sagar Kumar Rai, Secretary of Water and Energy Commission Secretariat. Moderated by Mr. Kalanidhi Poudyal (Joint Secretary at WECS), the program began with a welcome speech by Er. Sanjeev Bickram Rana (Executive Director at Kathmandu Valley Water Supply Management Board). The Honorable Minister of Ministry of Energy, Water Resource and Irrigation, Top Bahadur Rayamajhi, and Honourable Minister of Ministry of Water Supply, Mani Chandra Thapa, jointly inaugurated the program by watering a flower pot.

Mr. Hari Ram Shrestha (Joint Secretary of WECS) summarized the strategies under National Water Resources Policy 2077 for conservation, development, and uses of water resources at coordination of federation, provinces, and local levels. Ms. Nilu Basnyat (Chief of Party, USAID Paani Program) shared the success stories of the Paani project through the components of the project including the Karnali corridor framework, launching of Ramsar site management plan, freshwater governance model, river stretch co-management model, and integrated fish farming. Mr. Piyush Dahal (Assistant Research Director of SEN) shared the results of the recent research works carried out by SEN on the impact of climate change in water resources, particularly in the Koshi, Gandaki, and Karnali rivers basins of Nepal. He discussed the implications of climate change in different fields. Mr. Rajat Ojha (Senior Divisional Engineer of Department of Water Supply and Sanitation) shared his presentation that covered the topics of water quality, sanitation, hygiene, and the capacity building of local and national level authorities of water management in Nepal. 

With around 150 participants, the program incorporated remarks from many dignitaries, which all centered around the theme of this year’s world water day and water resource management. Remarks were presented by Dr. Pema Gyamtsho (Director General, ICIMOD); Tripti Rai (Country representative of WaterAid Nepal); Mr. Madhav Belbase (Secretary of Ministry of Water Supply), who accentuated the linkages of water resources with GDP and the need for institutional capacity building to tackle the associated challenges; Mr. Dipak Gyawali (Former Minister), who stressed to rethink the development process and to direct it towards nexus approach rather than integrated approach; Mr. Ganesh Shah (Former Minister); Honorable Mani Chandra Thapa, (Minister of Ministry of Water Supply); Honorable Top Bahadur Rayamajhi (Minister of Ministry of Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation). The program officially ended after the closing remarks by Mr. Sagar Kumar Rai (Secretary of Water and Energy Commission Secretariat).