Himalayan News Service

Kathmandu, July 22:

Water shortage in Kathmandu Valley could be met through rain water harvesting, Dhurva Kumar Bajimaya, director general of the Nepal Drinking Water Corporation (NDWC), said today. He added that if the Kathmandu Metropolitan City introduced the technology in the process of construction of buildings, it would be more effective. A field visit to Dr Roshan Raj Shrestha in Dallu and Sumitra Manandhar in Swyambhu to observe rain water harvesting technology, was organised by the Forum for Urban Water and Sanitation, Environment and Public Health Organisations (ENPHO) today. ‘’The NDWC has not been able to supply 50 per cent of the demand for water during the dry season,’’ said Madan Das Sherestha, deputy director general of NDWC, adding: “utilising 25 per cent of rain water would be a relief to the Valley”. He added that the NDWC will also work on public awareness programmes on rain water harvesting. Prakash Amatya, executive director of ENPHO, said that around 250 households in Kathmandu are harvesting rainwater.