KATHMANDU, March 22: President Ram Chandra Paudel has urged all government bodies, development partners, organizations, and citizens to work together with commitment and coordination to ensure water conservation, sustainable use, and equal access.
In a message on the occasion of World Water Day 2026, he stressed the need to ensure gender equality, proportional participation, and fair access at every level of drinking water management.
Solar Irrigation Pumps, Women and Smallholders in Eastern Tarai
He said, “Water is the foundation of life, health, prosperity, and social justice. From the earliest human civilizations to the present day, water has guided every aspect of human existence. Ancient civilizations developed along riverbanks, and today, protecting nature and water to sustain life has become increasingly challenging.”
The President noted that groundwater is a valuable natural resource that supports ecological balance, regulates river flow, helps reduce the impact of climate change, and ensures the supply of safe drinking water. He warned that increasing urbanization, infrastructure development, environmental degradation, climate change, and pollution are causing water sources to dry up.
The message states that excessive extraction of groundwater and the expansion of concrete structures in urban areas have disrupted natural recharge processes, leading to a continuous decline in underground water levels. Unplanned settlements and growing industrial activity have also contributed to groundwater pollution.
Highlighting future risks of water scarcity, President Paudel called for the conservation of watershed areas to support groundwater recharge. He also emphasized promoting traditional practices such as building ponds, reservoirs, and small water bodies in rural areas.
Observed globally every year on March 22 since 1993 at the call of the United Nations, World Water Day aims to raise awareness about the importance, conservation, and sustainable use of water. In Nepal, this year’s observance is being marked with awareness programs under the theme “The Important Role of Water for Gender Equality.”
