Kathmandu: Speakers at a programme today urged stakeholders to preserve Kathmandu Valley’s traditional water management system. Padma Sundar Joshi, habitat manager at the UN Habitat Nepal, said Kathmandu, with its rajkulo (water canal), ponds and stone spouts, is the best example of an eco-city in terms of water management system. “Sustainable water management system is closely linked with socio-cultural practices of the country,” added Joshi.

At the programme on ‘Traditional Water Management and Festival of Machhindranath’, Joshi expressed worries that modern development activities have hit the traditional water management to a great extent. “Privately-dug wells have replaced traditional ponds and stone spouts,” he said, adding that buildings with basement and water pipelines deeply laid in the city have also affected the traditional water system. On the occasion, UN Habitat launched ‘Urban Forum’ to deal with urban issues. Youth, researchers and scholars will talk turkey in the forum on urban issues. Joshi further stressed the importance of a sustainable water supply system and called for community participation in protecting the system. Bhushan Tuladhar, regional technical adviser at the UN Habitat Water for Asian Cities, said the traditional water management system in the Valley was worth praise.

Source: The Himalayan Times, July 10, 2011