Technical Workshop and Symposium

Published At: Mar 25, 2026 (Chaitra 11, 2082)
From: Mar 19, 2026 (Chaitra 1, 2082)
To: Mar 20, 2026 (Chaitra 2, 2082)

In celebration of National Water Week 2026, a high-level technical series was collaboratively organized by the Nepal Hydrogeological Association (NHA), the Nepal Geological Society (NGS), and the Nepal Geological Students' Society (NGSS).

The event, themed "Groundwater Matters: Securing Water Future from Beneath Our Feet," consisted of a technical workshop and an  symposium designed to bridge the gap between scientific research and practical water management.

Day 1: Technical Workshop on Challenges in Groundwater Development

• Date: March 19, 2026
• Time: 13:30 (Commencement)
• Venue: Hall of the Central Department of Geology (CDG), Tribhuvan University, Kirtipur.
• Participants: Over 60 attendees, including representatives from Kathmandu Valley municipalities, senior government officials, and geology students.

Technical Presentations:

1. Challenges on Groundwater Extraction: Aquifer Response, Well Interference, and Sustainable Yield
   • Presenter: Surendra Maharjan, Hydrogeologist (Government of Nepal).
2. Groundwater Exploration and Reserve Estimation: Methods and Field Challenges in Nepal
   • Presenter: Surendra Maharjan, Consultant Hydrogeologist.
3. Fundamentals of Well Design and Pump Selection: Engineering for Groundwater Development
   • Presenter: Aravind Kumar Mishra, President of NHA.

Day 2: Symposium on "Groundwater Matters"

• Date: March 20, 2026
• Venue: Hall of the Department of Water Resource and Irrigation (DoWRI), Jawalakhel.

Keynote Presentations:

• Springs of Nepal: Water-Energy-Food Ecosystem Nexus and Management Strategy
  • Speaker: Dr. Moti Lal Rijal (Associate Professor, CDG, TU).
• Evolution of Groundwater Studies in Nepal: A Historical Overview
  • Speakers: Pratap Singh Tater and Nir Shakya (Consultant Hydrogeologists).

Expert Panel Discussion:

The symposium concluded with a high-level panel, moderated by Mr. Surendra Raj Shrestha (Consultant Hydrogeologist).

Panelist 

Prof. Dr. Dinesh Pathak | Head of Department, CDG, Tribhuvan University
Dr. Sanjeev Bickram Rana | Former Executive Director, KVWSMB
Er. Surat Bam | Joint Secretary (GoN) & Project Director, WSGISM
Mr. Dev Kumar Syanbo | Joint Secretary (GoN) & Project Director, TMGIP
Mr. Nir Shakya | Consultant Hydrogeologist

Strategic Impact

This two-day event provided a vital platform for stakeholders to discuss the technical complexities of groundwater Extraction and the necessity of sustainable extraction. By bringing together academia, government policy-makers, and independent consultants, the organizers successfully highlighted groundwater as a critical component of Nepal's national security and environmental resilience.

Report: Technical Workshop and Symposium