The 1st Nepal Hydrogeological Conference, 20-21 August 2025 was successfully accomplished. The program was inaugurated by the Honb'le Minister Pradip Yadav, Ministry of Drinking Water. The presence of Er. Mitra Baral, Director General- Department of Water Resources and Irrigation, Er. Ram Kumar Shrestha, Director General- Department of Drinking Water and Sewerage Management; Director General and other dignitaries paved way the significance of the conference in Nepalese context. The presence of His Excellency Shmulik Arie Bass, Ambassador of the Nation of Israel and his contextual words and commitment to support in the groundwater resources sector was valuable. There were 39 presentations from Nepal, USA, Hongkong, India and Bangladesh. The overwhelming participants with the academic and professional background in hydrogeology was an encouraging event. The program was attended by around 125 participants, which facilitated the fruitful discussion on every presentations. Nepal Hydrogeological Association would like to express hearty thanks to the associated partners, Convener, Paper presenters, participants, advisory Committee, Organizing Committee, Partner Organization and Supporting Organizations. The outcome of the conference will be shared with all concerned organizations and professionals, which will be a basis for further discussion for establishing better research, planning and management of the resources for the nation development. We are equally thankful to Ramro Sanchar News Media or covering the entire activities of the conference.
Conference venue: Hotel Square, Pulchowk-3, Lalitpur
1st NEPAL HYDROGEOLOGICAL CONFERENCE - 2025
"Groundwater for People and Ecosystems: Sustainability and Resilience in the changing world"
BACKGROUND
The 1st Nepal Hydrogeological Conference - 2025, organized by the Nepal Hydrogeological Association (NHA), is going to be held on 20–21 August 2025 in Kathmandu, Nepal. As the first national event solely dedicated to hydrogeology, this conference aims to create a vibrant, recurring platform for knowledge exchange, innovation, and cross-sectoral collaborations for understanding groundwater systems in Nepal from science to policy.
With the expected participants of 150+ professionals from Nepal and abroad including scientists, engineers, policymakers, development partners, and industry leaders—the conference will spotlight Nepal’s critical groundwater challenges and explore strategies for sustainable groundwater use, governance, and resilience-building. The organizers warmly invite Partner and Supporting Organizations to join this impactful initiative and enhance its national and regional reach.
CONFERENCE SIGNIFICANCE & OBJECTIVES
Groundwater, often overlooked, is a vital yet stressed resource in Nepal. From the fragile mountain aquifers to the densely populated Terai plains, Nepal faces groundwater-related challenges such as over-extraction, pollution, land subsidence, and climate-induced shifts in recharge systems. Yet, no dedicated national platform has existed to organize such national event including cross-sectoral thematic areas related with groundwater until now.
Key Objectives
Foster collaboration among academia, government, private sector, and civil society.
Showcase innovative research, data, tools, and technologies in groundwater science.
Identify policy-relevant and scalable solutions for groundwater sustainability.
Contribute to Nepal’s water security agenda and inform national development strategies.
Incorporate hydrogeology as a central pillar in disaster risk reduction and climate adaptation.
Scope & Key Themes
Broad Focus Areas But Not Limited To: Water Resources, Hydrogeology, Hydrology, Geophysics, Land Subsidence, Water-Related Disasters, Landslides, Environmental Geoscience
Core Themes
Mountain Hydrogeology & Cryosphere Dynamics: Sustaining Asia’s Water Towers in Hydrogeology
Groundwater Security in the Terai: Transboundary Management & Contaminant Mitigation
Geohazards Triggered by Groundwater: Landslides, Subsidence & Infrastructure Risks
Groundwater Governance in a Changing Climate: Equity, Law & Finance
Conjunctive Water Solutions: Surface–Groundwater Synergy for Drought Resilience
Recent Trends in Groundwater Studies: Emerging tools, methods, and case studies
TARGET AUDIENCE
Researchers and Academicians: Geology, Hydrogeology, Environmental Science, Engineering
Government Representatives: Departments of Water, Irrigation, Urban Planning, Disaster Management, Environment
