Kathmandu, September 20

Environment experts from different countries at an event here today called on policy makers to consider water resources, energy and food while formulating national development plans.

Environmentalists from Nepal, India, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Australia and the United Kingdom made the call during a discussion titled ‘South Asian Regional Knowledge Forum on Water, Energy and Food in South Asia:  From Concept to Practice’.

The programme was held to explore new ideas and propose solutions to environmental problems, including the depletion of water resources, energy crisis and food insecurity by introducing and institutionalising integrated approach at the policy level.

The discussion also dwelt on addressing the concerns of 300 million people living in river basins of the Indus, Brahmaputra and Ganges in the present context of rapid population growth, global warming and increasing competition for water resources in the region.

According to a report by Australian Aid, the current trends of rising population, urbanisation and industrialisation are resulting in degradation of water, land and energy, as people struggle for food security. The participants said climate change was causing more frequent and severe droughts, floods and storms.