Various organisations are gearing up to celebrate Nepal National Water and Meteorological Week 2016 starting from Thursday by organising various events and rallies, focusing on various aspects of water for sustainable growth. 

The organising committee led by the Water and Energy Commission Secretariat (WECs), along with other governmental agencies, non-government organisations, academic institutes and professional societies are engaged in various activities on global water crisis and the role in its sustainable management. 

As part of the annual event, Nepal has been celebrating the water week since 2008—to mark the World Water Day on March 22 with an aim to promote sustainable management of freshwater resources and Meteorological Week on March 23.

Each year World Water Day highlights a specific aspect of freshwater. This year UN-Water has dedicated World Water Day 2016 with the theme ‘Water and Jobs’,  focusing on how enough quantity and quality of water can change workers’ lives and livelihoods—and even transform societies and economies. 

Similarly, the Meteorological Day will be celebrated this year under the theme ‘Hotter, Drier and Wetter’, focusing on raising awareness to keep a constant watch on weather and climate for better life and future. 

The organisers said that this year’s national water week in Nepal will include scientific workshop on thematic issues, film festival, symposium on sustainable management groundwater, talk programs, data based research and water quality mapping of the Bagmati river, and photography competition, among others. 

Better water, better jobs

• Today, almost half of the world’s workers—1.5 billion people—work in water related sectors and nearly all jobs depend on water and those that ensure its safe delivery
• Yet the millions of people who work in water are often not recognised or protected by basic labour rights
• The theme in 2016—Water and Jobs—shows how enough quantity and quality of water can change workers’ lives and livelihoods—and even transform societies and economies.