Kathmandu, March 23: Nepal has 225 billion cubic meters of available water annually in its Nadinala River, yet much of it goes to waste due to a lack of multiple-use strategies. A government study indicates that 12 billion cubic meters of water is replenished as groundwater each year.

Despite having 2.265 million hectares of irrigable land out of 2.641 million hectares of total agricultural land, only one-third receives irrigation year-round. To address this, the government is advancing major national pride projects, including the Bheri Babai Diversion Project and Sunkoshi Marin Diversion Project. Additional projects such as Babai, Ranijamra Kularia, and Siktaja are expected to enhance agricultural production.

Nepal has made significant strides in drinking water access, with 95% of the population now having basic water services. However, mismanagement, rapid urbanization, climate change, and glacier retreat threaten water security. Groundwater overuse, pollution, and erratic rainfall patterns are worsening the crisis.

World Water Day 2025, observed on March 22, focused on protecting glaciers amid rising global temperatures. President Ram Chandra Poudel called for the conservation of watersheds, ponds, and rainwater recharge systems to combat water scarcity.

With only 2.5% of the world’s water being drinkable, Nepal must improve water management and conservation to ensure long-term sustainability.