Nepal National Water and Weather Week (NNWWW)-2016 

SOHAM-Nepal is celebrating World Water Day and World Meteorological Day 2016 under Nepal National Water and Weather Week (NNWWW)-2016. This is a joint effort of SOHAM-Nepal with Department of Hydrology and Meteorology (DHM), Government of Nepal (National Hydrological and Meteorological Service); Water and Energy Commission Secretariat (WECS), Government of Nepal; Central Department of Hydrology and Meteorology (CDHM)/ Department of Meteorology (DOM), Tri-chandra College, Tribhuvan University; Student Organization of Meteorology (SOM), Tri-chandra College; The small Earth Nepal (SEN) and other stakeholders. Altogether there are 22 stakeholders are working together in a single platform to mark the even a grand success. The small Earth Nepal (SEN) is the Secretariat for the week long event. Some of the events that SOHAM  involved directly is listed here.

March 15

• Mr. Jagat Kumar Bhusal, Chairperson and Mr. Suman Kumar Regmi, Secretary General attended press meeting to commemorate World Water Day (WWD) and World Meteorological Day (WMD) under Nepal National Water and Weather Week (NNWWW)-2016 at Water and Energy Commission Secretariat, Singha Durbar, Kathmandu. High officials from Department of Hydrology and Meteorology and Water and Energy Commission Secretariat also highlighted on week long programme.

March 17

• WALAKATHON programme was organized by Department of Hydrology and Meteorology, Government of Nepal; SOHAM-Nepal; Central Department of Hydrology and Meteorology (CDHM)/ Department of Meteorology (DOM), Tri-chandra College, Tribhuvan University; Student Organization of Meteorology (SOM), Tri-chandra College. The programme was inaugurated by Mr. Vijaya Kumar Mallik, Secretary, Ministry of Population and Environment. Mr. Keshab Dhoj Adhikari, Officiating Secretary, Water and Energy Commission Secretariat (WECS),  Dr. Rishi Ram Sharma, Director General of Department of Hydrology and Meteorology joined the programme. Altogether 85 participants from SOHAM Nepal members, staffs from Department of Hydrology and Meteorology,  Academician/B.Sc and M.Sc Meteorology students from Tribhuvan University actively participated the programme. The WALKATHON was started from Bhadrakali Temple at 7:45 AM and moved to the Shahidgate-Sundhara- RB Complex-Bhugol park-New Road Gate-Ratnpark-Nepal Electricity Authority- Nepal Tourism Board. The mass entered Nepal Tourism Board at 8:30 AM.

• Bicycle Rally was also organized simultaneously under  Nepal National Water and Weather Week (NNWWW)-2016. Honorable Bishwendra Paswan, Minister of Population and Environment inaugurated the function. He also actively participated in the bicycle rally. The bicycle rally programme was held by The Small Earth Nepal (SEN) with support from Cycle city Network, Nepal.

• Formal Inauguration of Nepal National Water and Weather Week (NNWWW)-2016 was held at Nepal Tourism Board Hall during 9-11 AM. Mr. Keshab Dhoj Adhikari, Officiating Secretary, Water and Energy Commission Secretariat (WECS) was  the chairperson of the programme. Honorable Top Bhadaur Rayamajhi,  Deputy Prime minister and  minister for Ministry of Energy was the chief guest of the porgramme whereas Honorable Bishwendra Paswan, Minister of Population and Environment was special guest of the inauguration programme. Secretaries, Director Generals, and other distinguished officials from various Government and non-governmental organization, Academician and students from Tribhuvan University attended the programme. Honourable Top Bhadaur Rayamajhi,  Deputy Prime minister and minister for Ministry of Energy inaugurated Nepal National Water and Weather Week (NNWWW)-2016 by watering the plant.  Various speakers including ministers also delivered speeches.

March 18, 20

• Students’ Organization of Meteorology (SOM) with support from SOHAM Nepal and other stakeholders, celebrated World Water Day (WWD) and World Meteorological Day (WMD) at Tri-Chandra College, Ghantaghar on March 18 and 20. The programme was followed by the Inaugural session on the first day. The inaugural session was chaired by Mr. Narayan Gautam, Head of Department, Tri-chandra College, Ghantaghar. Prof. Suresh Raj Chalise was the chief guest of the programme. Dr. Janak Lal Nayava, Adviser and former Chairperson of SOHAM Nepal, Mr. Suman Kumar Regmi, Secretary General, SOHAM Nepal and other distinguished guests were also present during the occasion.  Prof. Suresh Raj Chalise was honoured  with a token of love.  He also delivered an inaugural speech. The programme comprised series of talk programmes and documentary shows during two days (March 18 and March 20).

List of Talk programmes

1. ‘Basic knowledge of meteorology and issues related to presentation, snow and glaciers in Nepal’  by Prof. Tek Bhadur Chettri, CDHM
2. ‘Instrumentation’ by Mr. Sujan Koirala,DHM
3. ‘GIS’ by Mr. Bikash Nepal, DHM
4. ‘River Systems and flood introduced disaster in Nepal’ by Mr. Narayan Gautam, DOM
5. Forecasting Techniques’ by Ms. Shanti Kandel, DHM
6. ‘Drought and Nepal’ by Dr. Hemu Kharel Kafle, NAST
7. ‘Thunderstorm’ by  Ms. Manju Basi, DHM

List of Documentary Show

1. Himalayan Meltdown (Contributed by SEN and prepared by ICIMOD and Discovery Channels)
2. Drought (Contributed by ICIMOD)

March 21

• A Media Interaction programme was held at Reporters Club, Kathmandu. Dr. Rishi Ram Sharma, Director General of Department of Hydrology and Meteorology  and Mr. Jagat Kumar Bhusal, Chairperson, SOHAM Nepal (also Electricity Tariff Fixation Commission, Government of Nepal) was the key speakers. Dr. Sharma highlighted the issues related to climate, weather, flood and current ongoing DHM activities with further challenges whereas Mr. Bhusal also discussed on the issues related with water resources and its potential for hydro-power generation. High officials from Department of Hydrology and Meteorology /SOHAM Nepal were also present during the occasion.

March 23

• A whole day programme was held at Hotel Himalaya as a final programme as well as closing week long programme.
• On the first half of the day, National Workshop on Water for Livelihood, Science, Policy and Practices was held. The programme was chaired by Mr. Dhan Bahadur Tamang, Secretary, Water and Energy Commission Secretariat (WECS) and Chairperson of Nepal National Water and Weather Week (NNWWW)-2016. High officials from various government and non-government were the guest of the programme. Five papers were also presented by professionals during technical session. The technical session chair and vice-chair were Mr. Mahendra Bahadur Gurung and Dr. Arun Bhakta Shrestha respectively.
• On the second half of the day, programme on National Debate was held focusing the World Meteorological Day theme “Hotter, Drier and Wetter: Face the future”. Dr. Rishi Ram Sharma, Director General, Department of Hydrology and Meteorology delivered a technical presentation. Technical session was chaired by Mr. Jagat Kumar Bhusal, Chairperson, SOHAM Nepal. A National debate on Climate Change and water resources was also held among the distinguished personalities. Dr. Dwarika Nath Dhungel, Former Secretary, Government of Nepal was the chairperson of the National debate. The panelist involved in the session were: Prof. Dr. Ramesh Maskey, Kathmandu University, Dr. Subarna Shrestha, Dr. Rishi Ram Sharma, Mr. Jagat Kumar Bhusal and Mr. Tirtha koirala, Senior Media person.
• Formal closing of the Nepal National Water and Weather Week (NNWWW)-2016 was held at the end of the day. Honorable Bishwendra Paswan, Minister of Population and Environment was the chief guest of the closing session. Secretaries, Director Generals, and other distinguished officials from various Government and non-governmental organization, Academician and students from Tribhuvan University attended the programme. Various speakers including minister also delivered speeches.
• Honorable Bishwendra Paswan, Minister of Population and Environment announced to establish a fund for Hydrology and Meteorology activities by contributing NPR 1, 50,000/- (One lakh and fifty thousands Nepali Rupees). Similarly, Dr. Rishi Ram Sharma, Director General, Department of Hydrology, also declared to deposit the amount NPR 1, 00, 000/- (One lakh Nepali Rupees) in the fund.