272 पटक हेरिएको 
Lalitpur : On March 25, 2025, Godawari Municipality organized a one-day event to commemorate World Water Day with technical support of Godawari Prabalya WASH.
The event brought together 150 women from various wards, including members of Water and Sanitation Users Committees, Forest Users Committees, and elected representatives, for an interactive session focused on water resource management, protection and gender inclusion.
Key Presentations and Discussions
Mr. Anand Gautam, WOP Coordinator of the Godawari Prabalya WASH Project, presented key findings from an assessment of 63 Water and Sanitation Users Committees based on data collected by NWASH App during formulation of WASH plan of Godawari municipality. His presentation highlighted Gender Equality and Social Inclusion (GESI) dynamics and other critical performance indicators. He also provided an update on the current status of the Godawari Rivers.
The event featured expert insights from Mr. Kalanidhi Paudel, Joint Secretary at the Water and Energy Commission Secretariat, and Ms. Mana Devi Shrestha, Secretary of Electricity commission under the Ministry of Energy, Water Resources, and Irrigation. Both experts emphasized the crucial role of women in protecting water sources and rivers in Godawari Municipality.
Mrs. Shrestha underscored the importance of ensuring household-level access to clean water through a 24-hour supply, highlighting its impact on livelihoods, income-generating activities, and reducing the household burden on women. She urged all women participants to take proactive initiatives in conserving natural water resources, emphasizing how such efforts directly contribute to reducing their daily workload.
Mr. Paudel emphasized the interconnection between water resources, forests, land, livelihoods, solid waste management, and river conservation. He encouraged women to advocate for meaningful participation in decision-making processes within Water and Sanitation Users Committees and Forest Users Committees, ensuring their voices are heard.
He also committed technical support from the Water and Energy Commission Secretariat, which leads Nepal’s Integrated Water Resource Management (IWRM) initiatives.
Furthermore, he invited the Godawari Municipality team to visit the WECS office to explore collaborative projects for water resource conservation. He announced that Godawari Municipality would be selected as a model local government for water resource conservation initiatives.
Community Concerns and Municipal Commitments
Following Mr. Gautam’s presentation, six women raised concerns regarding water quality, unequal distribution, and the lack of water supply despite having household tap connections. They emphasized the need for improvements in water accessibility and quality.
In response, Mr. Gautam highlighted the contributions of the Godawari Prabalya WASH Project in supporting the municipality in policy formulation, WASH planning, and upcoming water resource protection initiatives.
Deputy Mayor Mrs. Muna Adhikari outlined the municipality’s ongoing efforts to regulate Water and Sanitation Users Committees. She stressed the importance of water resource conservation and acknowledged the continuous support provided by WaterAid Nepal and the Godawari Prabalya WASH team in water, sanitation, and solid waste management. Impressed by the event’s outcomes, she committed to providing sustained support for women-led initiatives in water resource protection.
With consensus from all participating women, the Deputy Mayor made the following commitments:
Five-Point Commitment by Godawari Municipality on the Occasion of World Water Day
On Tuesday, 12th Chaitra 2081, Godawari Municipality, under the chairmanship of the Deputy Mayor, and in the presence of 150 women, made the following five-point commitment:
1. Godawari Municipality is committed to the sustainable utilization, conservation, management, and regulation of water resources in accordance with the Integrated Water Resource Management Plan (IWRM). This will be achieved through coordination and collaboration between the municipality, provincial and federal governments, development partners, community organizations, and other stakeholders, ensuring good water governance.
2. Godawari Municipality commits to advancing the development of an Integrated Water Resource Management Plan by formulating policy and legal frameworks, guidelines, and standards for water conservation.
3. Godawari Municipality pledges to identify water conservation zones and work in collaboration with the federal and provincial governments, as well as non-governmental organizations, for their protection.
4. Godawari Municipality is committed to conducting capacity-building training for women to support the conservation and management of traditional water sources such as stone spouts, irrigation canals, springs, wells, Rajkulo and ponds within the municipality.
5. Godawari Municipality pledges to take coordinated action with relevant stakeholders to enhance water quality and flow in major rivers such as Godawari, Kadku, and Nakkhu by promoting rainwater harvesting and groundwater recharge initiatives.
The event concluded with a shared vision for sustainable water resource management and reinforced commitments to advancing gender-inclusive water governance in Godawari Municipality. The overall event was coordinated by Engineer Anita Bohara- Section Chief of Environment and Disaster Section of Godawari Municipality.
