Supply of drinking water, energy and food to growing population an uphill challenge: Experts

KATHMANDU, DECEMBER 7: Experts have said that it is an uphill challenge to supply adequate pure drinking water, energy, and food to the growing population of the country. At a two-day workshop on water, energy, and food nexus that kicked off in Kathmandu on Tuesday, they came up with such a statement.

 Inaugurating the workshop, Secretary of the Ministry of Drinking Water Maniram Gelal said the demand for drinking water, energy, and food was increasing across the globe with the expansion of urbanization and population. On the occasion, former minister Ganesh Saha suggested that the challenges that surfaced in the sector could be averted by protecting sources of water, utilizing rain water and developing technology on water efficiency for higher yields of crops, and placing renewable energy measures.

Likewise, former secretary, Suman Prasad Sharma, demanded serious interventions from the concerned side to reach out  the growing population with pure drinking water, adequate clean energy, and nutrient-rich food.

Chairperson of Smart WASH Solutions, Ramdeep Saha, shared that the workshop was organized to draw learning of the advanced countries in addressing the issues of drinking water, clean energy, and nourishing food in light of the rising population.

During the event, J W Lee of the Asian Water Council and K-Water delivered a presentation on how Korea Water (K-Water) was working to address challenges emerging in the sector. Expert Dr. Unahar Shin shed light on the inter-relationship between water, energy and food, urban water management, water leakage control, and management style in congruent with sustainable development.

Prof Dr. Bim Shrestha of Kathmandu University presented a paper on the nexus between water, energy, and food while Executive Director of Alternative Energy Promotion Centre (AEPC).  Also, Dr. Madhusudan Adhikari presented a working paper on the contributions to drinking water, energy, and food security through renewable energy technology in Nepal. 

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