LALITPUR: Experts from water and sanitation (WATSAN) sector at a workshop today suggested that the municipalities should be using their own local resources for safe drinking water and sanitation projects.

The one-day workshop on ‘Municipal Resource Mapping for Sustainable Implementation of Water and Sanitation Plan’ organised by Municipal Association of Nepal (MuAN) in association with Practical Action Nepal (PAN) and Environment and Public Health Organisation (ENPHO) was supported by European Union and UN HABITAT.

Dinesh Kumar Thapaliya, spokesperson Ministry of Local Development said, “We should not be dependent on foreign donor agencies for our local projects,” adding, “We should be tapping locally available physical and human resources in water and sanitation sector.”

Dolmani Poudel, president MuAN alleged the government for not allocating enough budget in the sector. He said, “The government should give priority to the sector.” Due to budget crunch the local bodies had to seek support from the donor agencies, he added.

Meanwhile, speakers suggested various ideas of resources generation for the project. They also highlighted the need of more responsible and accountable local bodies responsible for the development of the sector.

Earlier, Strengthening Water, Air, Sanitation and Hygiene Treasuring Health project launched jointly by MuAN, PAN, ENPHO, EU and UN-HABITAT had prepared a 20-year plan for seven municipalities in the country.

The project that would provide drinking water and sanitation facilities included Bharatpur, Ratnanagar, Butwal, Ramgram, Siddarthanagar, Gulariya, Tikapur municipalities and three other small cities Sunwal, Kawasoti and Bardaghat.