As a part of the Celebration of Nepal National Water Week, The Small Earth Nepal, in the support of International Water Management Institute (IWMI) Nepal, organized an interaction program between Constituent Assembly Members and the water related experts. The session was chaired by Honorable Minister Mr. Narayan Prasad Saud, Ministry of Irrigation and was Co-chaired by Dr. Krishna Chandra Paudel, Secretary, Water and Energy commission Secretariat and Mr. Pratap Kumar Pathak, Secretary, Ministry of Irrigation, Government of Nepal. In the first session, the guest water experts presented their papers on water and energy. The first paper was presented by Dr. Luna Bharati, Head of Office, IWMI on title “Moving Towards Environmentally Sustainable Water Allocation in South Asia”. She enforced to have defined laws for water allocation like who won it, who administers it and how it is implemented for the objectives of social equity and economic development. She was assisted by Dr. Floriance Clement with the presentation on “Designing Adaptation Policies, an Integrated Approach”. The second presentation was made by Mr. Surya Nath Upadhyay, Former secretary of Ministry of Water Resources Minister of Water Recourses on “Water on Forthcoming Constitution”. He highlighted the weak points of previously draft constitution with his suggestions of improving in each aspects. The third paper was presented by Prof Dr. Govvinda Raj Pokharel, Executive Director, Alternative Energy Promotion Centre on “Mainstreaming the renewable Energy in the Energy Development”. He shared about how alternative energy has been providing employment opportunies in Nepal and how it has been contributing in preserving environment.
In the second session, the CA members representing different political parties have presented their agendas regarding the water and energy nexus. Hon. Mr. Shanker Bhandari from Nepali Congress, Hon. Mr. Ananda Pokhrel from Communist Party – Unified Marxist Leninist Nepal, Er. Niraj Shah and Mr. Puskar Kumar Adhikary from Rasraya Prajantra Party Nepal, Hon. Mr. Shibaji Yadav from Madeshi Janaadhikar Forum Nepal, Hon. Mr. Parsuram Tamang from Rastrya Prajantra Party, Mr. Krishna Adhikary Secretary of Rastry Janamorcha Nepal has expressed the need of water issues in forthcoming constitution. As a common point, all of them agreed to integrate the water related issues through common government body. The water and energy has been kept in top priority by the political parties of Nepal.
The CA interaction program, which was held at Hotel Everest, was attended by the guests representing government, INGOs, NGOs and private institutions.
