2017

Bhutan Water Partnership (BhWP) accredited as a Country Water Partnership (CWP), where the CWP has granted the responsibility for coordinating the action of GWP in Bhutan.

In recognition of the increasing pollution in the Chubachu stream compounded by poor waste management, the National Environment Commission Secretariat in collaboration with the Thimphu Thromde, Royal Society for Protection of Nature (RSPN)/Bhutan Water Partnership (BhWP) and Clean Bhutan decided to adopt and spearhead the cleaning of Chubachu stream. The adoption was launched on 22 March 2017 in observation of the World Water Day, which was followed by a mass cleaning campaign.

Bangladesh hosted the fourth regional consultation on Valuing Water held on 31 July 2017 at the BRAC Centre in Dhaka, Bangladesh. Sixty-three water professionals from Bangladesh, development partners representing World Bank, Asian Development Bank (ADB), United Nations, Water Resources Group 2030 (WRG 2030), Embassies and other organisations have actively participated the discussion.

The Pakistan country stakeholder workshop for Sustainable Development Goal 6.5.1 will be held on 20 December 2017 organised by Pakistan Water Partnership (PWP) together with the relevant ministries and appointed Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) Focal Point with the collaboration of GWP.

GWP SAS held a Sub Regional Coordination Meeting leading to 8th World Water Forum in Brasilia back-to-back with the Annual Regional Council meeting on 29 October 2017 in Dhaka, Bangladesh.

India Water Partnership (IWP) facilitated a Panel Discussion on ‘Role of Women and Youth in Water Security and inclusive growth’ on 14 October 2017 at Vigyan Bhavan during 5th India Water Week 2017 held New Delhi, India.

Expert Consultation Meeting on South Asia Drought Monitoring System (SADMS) with focus on Sri Lanka held on 26 September 2017 at International Water Management Institute (IWMI) in Colombo, Sri Lanka.

Chairs, Regional Coordinators, Programme Managers of Water, Climate and Development Programme (WACDEP), Senior Network Officers for Pan Asia met in Colombo, Sri Lanka on 12 and 13 September 2017 to develop the Pan Asia WACDEP Strategy document 2017-2019.

Arsenic contamination of groundwater that considered endemic to North Eastern part of India, has now moving into Bihar state poisoning populations in 18 out of 38 districts of Bihar. Ineffective water purification and sewage systems as well as periodic monsoons and flooding in the area exacerbated the situation.