Kathmandu: President Ramchandra Paudel has stressed the need for conservation of water bodies for the recharge of groundwater resources in view of the challenges of water crisis that may arise in the future. Issuing a message of best wishes on the occasion of the World Water Day today, the President stressed the need for all concerned to take initiative to construct structures including ponds and lakes in rural areas and alternatives for recharge of ground water with rainwater in urban areas.

“There is a need to formulate water reservoir plan by mixing ancient and modern technology,” the President said in his message. The message states that although the existence of the animal world is linked with water and nature, the origin of organisms happened in water and ancient human civilizations have developed on the banks of rivers, the conservation of nature and water to save the existence of life has become challenging in the present. “Groundwater is an important natural resource that helps to make ecosystems sustainable and maintain river flows and replenish safe drinking water while mitigating the impacts of climate change,” the President said.

He expressed concern over the loss of water resources due to increasing urbanization and natural disasters, climate change and pollution during the construction of physical infrastructures. “The groundwater level continues to decline due to overexploitation of ground water resources and obstruction in recharge owing to concrete structures constructed in urban areas. Ground water resources are getting polluted due to the unsystematic human settlements and increasing industrialization,” the message reads.

The President said that natural destruction and loss of life and property could be minimized with the help of timely early warning system while protecting water resources and river systems. He wished that the World Water Day would inspire us to meet the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) through conservation and utilization of water.