SDG 6 Review Meeting Held in Kirtipur Municipality

SDG 6 Review Meeting Held in Kirtipur Municipality

23 February, Kathmandu. 

A review meeting on SDG 6.1 and 6.2 (water and sanitation) was organized in Kirtipur Municipality of Kathmandu. This was a follow up and review meeting, one year after the similar event in January 2021. 

 

The meeting was jointly organized by Kirtipur Municipality, NGO Federation of Nepal (NFN), WaterAid, and Nepal SDGs Forum in the presence of the representative of the Ministry of Water Supply. 

 

In the meeting, Mayor of Kirtipur Municipality Mr. Ramesh Maharjan boasted of some achievements the municipality was able to make. He said that some areas that looked like dumping sites have been converted to green gardens, significant progress has been made in supply of drinking water, and around four thousand more taps have been installed in the municipality. However, there has not been an equitable distribution of water because of the multiple service providers functioning without adequate coordination. Additionally, lack of data has made it difficult to accurately assess existing situation and the progress. 

 

Chief Administrative Officer Mr. Krishna Prasad Sapkota stated that mapping of the existing actions and initiatives of the local governments based on the SDGs would show the progress and results but such framework is lacking. 

 

Mr Ratna Prasad Lamichhane, Senior Divisional Engineer of the Ministry of Water Supply, presented the roles and responsibilities of different levels of governments and said that the local governments lack institutional capacity, investment, and information. He mentioned some policy initiations which included WASH Bill (tabled in the parliament), Sector Development Plan of WASH (Drafted), Water Resource Policy, New Water Quality Standard (Drafted), Waste Water Effluent Standards (Drafted), and different local level plans and policies.

 

NFN's Secretary General Mr Arjun Bhattarai appreciated the initiatives and progress Kirtipur Municipality has made and suggested of the need to facilitate some learning sharing and exchange of information. He also informed that NFN has been facilitating meeting and dialogues with all tiers of the governments so that there is better coordination, SDG integration and commitment to make progress by leaving no one behind. 

 

A situational analysis of fecal sludge management and policy draft prepared by Eco Concern, Clean Development and Smart WASH was shared to the Kirtipur Municipality officials requesting them for necessary amendment and endorsement. Likewise, a study report on WASH financing prepared by Mitra Samaj was also shared for consideration in future planning on WASH by the Municipality. The municipality officials have said that they will be considered.

 

The meeting was chaired by Mr. Ratna Upreti, Chairperson of NFN's Kathmandu District Chapter and facilitated by Mr. Ram Bhattarai, NFN's Kathmandu Chapter Secretary. 

Some remarkable suggestions and feedback were received during the open discussion. The participants suggested that the Municipality needs to have a WASH-specific unit to coordinate WASH interventions. The private sector collaboration of Kirtipur Municipality was appreciated.