International Webinar on Water and Sustainable Economic Development

kathmandu, An International Webinar on ‘Water and Sustainable Economic Development – Findings and
Lessons from Case Studies in Asia’ was jointly organized by United Nations University Institute
for the Advanced Study of Sustainability (UNU-IAS), Japan and School of Engineering, Pokhara
University, Nepal. The webinar was attended by more than 100 participants from various
academic institutions, government and non-government agencies of different countries. The
webinar discussed water challenges and policy-relevant tools for sustainable development in
Asia. Case studies on Kaski, Nepal and Bali, Indonesia were presented. The webinar consisted of
opening remarks, technical presentations, Q&A and Panelist’s comment sessions.
Beginning with introduction of ‘Water for Sustainable Development Project’, Dr. Kensuke
Fukushi, Academic Programe Officer at UNU-IAS and Professor at University of Tokyo,
remarked role of water for development and prosperity. Later, Prof. Dr. Hari Krishna Shrestha
(Principal, Nepal Engineering College, Pokahara University), with a case study of Hewa river
basin in Eastern Nepal, emphasized out on need of capacity development and involvement of
local government in addressing the problems of inadequate data for effective water resources
analysis. He also pointed out on development of portable data and sharing portals.

Technical presentations were made by Ms. Koful Shreshta, Senior Divisional Engineer at
Ministry of Physical Infrastructure Development, Lumbini Province on ‘Water and Economic
Development in Nepal’; Dr. Rajib Pokhrel, Associate Professor at School of Engineering,
Pokhara University, on ‘Environmental Challenges Arising from Economic Growth in Pokhara’;
Dr. Geetha Mohan and Dr. Saroj Chapagain, Research Fellows at UNU-IAS on ‘Impacts of
Economic Activities on Environmental Resources and Policy Options in Nepal’ considering
Water resources perspective and Water pollution perspective respectively; and Dr. I Made
Sudarma, Udayana University, Indonesia, on ‘Challenges of Sustainable Water Management in
Bali Province, Indonesia’.
A range of questions including water right, clean water accessibility, data adequacy,
sedimentation and landuse issues were raised and addressed for effective water resources
management and sustainable development. Following the question and answer session, valuable
comments on different aspects of water and environment management were made by five
panelists: Ms. Ambika Amatya (Lead Group Nepal, Lalitpur), Mr. Pradeep Jha (Community
Development Center, Rautahat), Dr. RC Lamichhane (City Planning Commission, Pokhara), Dr.
Binaya Raj Shivakoti (Institute for Global Environmental Strategies, Japan) and Dr. Rajan
Bhattarai (Water Resources Research and Development Center, Government of Nepal).
Finally, Mr. Madhav Dev Acharya, Senior Divisional Engineering Geologist at Water and
Energy Commission Secretariat, Nepal, said that the webinar was very useful for the water
managers and policy makers and wrapped up the webinar. Ms. Emi Yoshinaga, Programme
Coordinator at UNU-IAS Water for Sustainable Development (WSD) project, played role of

Master of Ceremony for the webinar. Dr. Binaya Kumar Mishra, Professor at School of
Engineering, Pokhara University moderated the Q & A and panel discussion session.