World Water Day 2022 celebration under the theme “Groundwater-Making the Invisible Visible”
Background:
World Water Day (WWD) is celebrated on 22nd March every year, as the day to mark the importance of freshwater and advocating for sustainable management of freshwater resources. United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED) in 1992 recommended celebrating the day as an international day for freshwater and 22 March 1993 was designated as the first World Water Day. Each year WWD emphasizes a specific aspect of freshwater. This year UN-Water has dedicated WWD 2022 to the theme “Groundwater: Making the Invisible Visible“. The objective of WWD 2022 is to highlight the importance of groundwater and its sustainable use. It encourages actions by governments, organizations, communities, and individuals to actively engage in addressing groundwater management.
Approach:
The existing knowledge of the groundwater issues in Nepal, future scenarios of the status of groundwater resources will be explored and discussed.
Activities and outreach:
The program will comprise of various presenters who will share their expertise on the subject matter. Estimated number of attendees is around 100, representing government organizations, non-government organizations, academia, civil society, journalism youth and relevant stakeholders.
Program Schedule
Time: 8:30 AM onwards
Venue: Yellow Pagoda Hotel, Kantipath, Kathmandu, Nepal
Master of Ceremony: Mr. Balkrishna Aryal, Under Secretary, WECS
| Time | Program Details |
| 8:30-9:15 | Breakfast/ Registration of the participants/guests |
| 9:15-9:25 |
Dignitaries on the Dias 1. Chairperson: Mr. Dinesh Kumar Ghimire, Secretary, Water and Energy Commission Secretariat 2. Chief Guest: Honorable Pampha Bhusal, Minister, Ministry of Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation 3. Special Guest: Honorable Umakant Chaudhary, Minister, Ministry of Water Supply 4. Special Guest: Mr. Ganesh Shah, Former Minister 5. Special Guest: Mr. Shanker Das Bairagi, Chief Secretary, Government of Nepal. 6. Special Guest: Mr. Madhav Belbase, Member, Public Service Commission 7. Special Guest: Dr. Surendra Labh Karna, Member, National Planning Commission 8. Guest: Mr. Devendra Karki, Secretary, Ministry of Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation 9. Guest: Mr. Sagar Kumar Rai, Secretary, Ministry of Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation 10. Guest: Mr. Suresh Acharya, Secretary, Ministry of Water Supply 11. Guest: Dr. Ghanashyam Gurung, Country Director, WWF Nepal. 12. Guest: Dr. Manohara Khadka, Country Representative, IWMI, Nepal 13. Guest: Dr. Pema Gyamtsho, Director General, ICIMOD 14. Guest: Ms. Tripti Rai, Country Representative, WaterAid Nepal 15. Guest: Dr. Laxman Sharma, Country Water Sector Specialist, ADPC, Nepal |
| 9:25-9:30 | National Anthem |
| 9:30-9:35 | Welcome Speech by Mr. Saraju Kumar Baidya, Joint Secretary, WECS. |
| 9:35-9:40 | Inauguration by watering the flower by the Chief Guest |
| 9:40-9:50 | Presentation by Mr. Kalanidhi Poudyal, Joint Secretary, WECS |
| Remarks | |
| 9:50-9:55 | Remarks by Dr. Laxman Sharma, Country Water Sector Specialist, ADPC Nepal |
| 9:55-10:00 | Remarks by Ms. Tripti Rai, Country Representative, WaterAid Nepal |
| 10:00-10:05 | Remarks by Dr. Pema Gyamtsho, Director General, ICIMOD |
| 10:05-10:10 | Remarks by Dr. Manohara Khadka, Country Representative, IWMI, Nepal |
| 10:10-10:15 | Remarks by Dr. Ghanashyam Gurung, Country Representatives, WWF Nepal |
| 10:15-10:20 | Remarks by Mr. Suresh Acharya, Secretary, Ministry of Water Supply |
| 10:20-10:25 | Remarks by Mr. Sagar Kumar Rai, Secretary, Ministry of Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation |
| 10:25-10:30 | Remarks by Mr. Devendra Karki, Secretary, Ministry of Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation |
| 10:30-10:35 | Remarks by Dr. Surendra Labh Karna Member, National Planning Commission |
| 10:35- 10:40 | Remarks by Mr. Madhav Belbase, Member, Public Service Commission |
| 10:40- 10:45 | Remarks by Mr. Shanker Das Bairagi, Chief Secretary, Government of Nepal |
| 10:45-10:50 | Remarks by Mr. Ganesh Shah, Former Minister |
| 10:50-11:00 | Remarks by Honorable Umakant Chaudhary, Minister, Ministry of Water Supply |
| 11:00-11:10 | Remarks by Honorable Pampha Bhusal, Minister, Ministry of Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation |
| 11:10-11:20 | Chairperson’s Remarks and Closing of the Inaugural Session by Mr. Dinesh Kumar Ghimire, Secretary WECS |
| 11:20-11:30 | Tea Break |
| Technical Session (Chairperson: Dr. Dibya Ratna Kanskar) | |
| 11:30-11:40 | Groundwater Governance, Mr. Bishnu Belbase, Executive Director, Groundwater Resources Development Board |
| 11:40-11:50 | The beacon project; Case study in knowledge transfer on borehole construction and its management in Lahan, Mr. Dharma Ratna Chitrakar, Beacon Technical Manager, WaterAid Nepal |
| 11:50-12:00 | Groundwater, Climate Adaptation and Resilience, Dr. Laxman Sharma, ADPC Nepal |
| 12:00-12:10 | Climate Change, Water Resources and Food Security in Nepal, Dr. Santosh Nepal, IWMI Nepal |
| 12:10-12:20 | Q & A session |
| 12:20-12:30 | Chairperson’s Remarks |
| Lunch | |
