WORLD WATER DAY
The Kathmandu Post
22
March 2016
WORLD WATER DAY
Here comes another World Water Day (WWD).
This year too, many programmes are being planned by various organizations (“Programmes lined up for World Water Day”
16 March, Page 2). Many non-
governmental organizations are involved in water related projects in Nepal. The government
has its own machinery to look after the management of drinking water system all
over the country.
It is said that
half of the world’s workforce (1.5 billion) is engaged in water related sectors.
But the workers’ jobs are not fully recognized or protected by basic labour
rights. In Nepal, most of the
water related jobs are focussed in the urban areas where the availability of
fresh water is shrinking due to heavy and haphazard urbanizations. Nepal has also been
unable to harness its water resources due to lack of political commitment and
poor vision.
Many promises
were and are being made by the government for providing safe drinking water to
the people but they are yet to be fulfilled. Many innocent people die every
year due to water borne diseases. No concrete measure has been taken by the
concerned authorities to minimize this. Simply observing WWD once a year does
not do much to address many problems in water sectors.
Rai Biren Bangdel
Maharjgunj
http://kathmandupost.ekantipur.com/printedition/news/2016-03-22/voice-of-the-people-20160322090658.html
