Mar 03, Kathmandu- Minister for Drinking Water Pradeep Yadav and Indian Minister for Jal Shakti CR Patil have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on the development of the drinking water, sanitation and hygiene (housing) sector. The MoU was signed during a special program organized in New Delhi, India on Monday.

Ram Kumar Shrestha, Director General of the Department of Water Supply and Sewerage Management, said that the MoU aims to strengthen the efforts of the Government of Nepal in developing drinking water resources, access to clean water, promotion of sanitation, waste management and strengthening the efforts of the Government of Nepal. The MoU aims to promote friendly cooperation between both countries and strengthen inter-governmental cooperation in the field of sanitation, acknowledging the efforts and concerns of the Government of Nepal regarding water security, ensuring access to safe drinking water in Nepal, and enabling people to earn their livelihood in a safe environment, the MoU states.

The agreement mentions that there will be groundwater management, technology and information exchange, rainwater harvesting and measurement, technology sharing, technology and training assistance to the Government of Nepal. The agreement aims to strengthen mutual cooperation between India and Nepal in the field of drinking water and sanitation.

The program was attended by Nepal's Ambassador to India Shankar Prasad Sharma, Indian Ambassador to Nepal Naveen Shrivastava, Secretaries of the Ministry of Water Power of the Government of India Ashok Meena, Devashree Murkhaji, Deputy Chief of Mission of the Nepali Embassy Surendra Thapa, Secretary of the Ministry of Drinking Water Pramila Devi Shakya Bajracharya, Joint Secretary Meena Shrestha, Director General of the Department of Drinking Water and Sewerage Management Ram Kumar Shrestha, among others.