Kathmandu, March 14:

A Nepali telefilm based on the shortage of drinking water has been selected to be screened at an international event on water to be held in Mexico.

Jalapari, a telefilm directed by Madan Krishna Shrestha and Haribansh Acharya, is one among three dozen films from the world over to be screened during the film festival to be held at the World Water Forum 2006 in Mexico from March 16 to 22.

The telefilm highlights the problems of severe water shortage and its effect on people’s lifestyle and also suggests rainwater harvesting as a possible solution.

“This is a big achievement on our part as we will be able to highlight the crunch of drinking water in Nepal, especially in Kathmandu Valley, at the international arena. We may probably find a way out from the experts gathered at the international meet,” said an officer at NGO Forum for Urban Water and Sanitation, today.

The eight-day event will screen similar films from USA, Canada, Spain, France, Venezuela, India, Iran, Mexico, Italy, Kenya, Chile, Brazil, among other countries.

Chairperson of the NGO Forum for Urban Water and Sanitation, Lajana Manandhar, is also going to present a paper on the recent developments of Kathmandu Valley Water Reform Project. Some selected water experts from Nepal are participating in the festival, according to the Forum.