This year’s “Nepal National Water and Weather Week” was celebrated from March 17 to 23 with grand success. Previously, it was celebrated as “Nepal National Water Week” only but from this year understanding the importance of water and weather together and how they go hand in hand, it has been modified to Nepal National Water and Weather Week. It has always been celebrated under the umbrella network of Nepal National Water and Weather Week 2016 to commemorate World Water Day (March 22) and the World Meteorological Day (March 23).
To celebrate this national event, a week-long program was scheduled under the Main Organizing Committee formed with the chairmanship of Water and Energy Commission Secretariat (WECS), Government of Nepal. The week long events started on March 17 and closed on March 23 with different types of activities on advocacy and awareness, research, and capacity building. Some activities were started pre-“water and weather week” like photography competition and Bagmati water quality mapping whose results were later published in the closing ceremony on 23 march.
Inauguration of NNWWW 2016 was done by cycle rally with symbolic blue gears such as blue cap, T shirts or cycle band with few speeches. Formal Inauguration Program was done in Nepal Tourism Board where the cycle rally ended. The speakers in the program were high dignitaries and expert who presented very interesting facts about water and weather. They shed light on the current situation of Nepal regarding the rules, regulations and what can be done to build cycle friendly roads at Nepal
SmartPaani participated in all the knowledge sharing programs in the week. It had planned to organize the Training session for the School Principals on March 21 in coordination with SEN. But due to the important examination S.L.C nearing, though the principals were very interested, on their request we had to postpone the training program after the completion of the S.L.C after couple of weeks.
This Water and Weather Week has helped to share the knowledge among the stakeholders and understand its importance. It has helped to understand what we have achieved in managing the resources, where the situation is heading in the future and what are the possible steps we need to do follow for its sustainability.
– Suraj Kumar Singh