Sustainable Development Goals: Targets, Achievements, Strategies and Future Strategies in context of Nepal

Sustainable Development Goals 06

Clean water and Sanitation

This goal comes under Environment pillar of Sustainable Development Goals. I will be addressing about Ensuring availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all.

Some targets of SDG 06 are:
1. By 2030, achieve universal and equitable access to safe and affordable drinking water
2. By 2030, achieve access to adequate and equitable sanitation and hygiene for all and end open defecation
3. By 2030, impoevr water quality by reducing pollution, eliminating dumping and minimizing release of hazardous chemicals

Certain indicators for achieving this goals are:
1. Population using safe drinking water will be 90% by 2030
2. Household with access to piped water supply will be 90% by 2030
3. Sanitation coverage is targeted to 99% by 2030
4. Proportion of untreated industrial waste water is targeted to reduce to 10% by 2030.

And till 2019, there is 89.9% of basic water supply coverage.

Nepal has certain major impacts on this SDGs. Nepal had been declared as "Open defecation free" in September 29, 2019. It's the first open defecation free country in South Asia. Budget allocation in drinking water is 43.10 billion and for sewage management is 5.89 billion. (as per the Fiscal year, 2020/2021). 99% of piped water supply is uniform thoughout the year. The rest 1% hasn't uniform supply due to geography contradictions. Similarly, attention to women and girls during their vulnerability is focused especially during their menstrual cycles. Wastewater as an undervalued source of water, it is used for energy nutrients for plants, and recoverable by products are reused.

Inspite of this higher rate of accessible of water supply, there are some limitations. It is found that contamination of E.coli is also being reported in water. Natural disasters like flood and landslides has repeatedly polluted and degraded water sources and these problems is not much considered by concerned authority. Billions still lack water and sanitation services. 3 billion people worldwide lack basic handwasgung facilities at home. This is very important for CoVid 19 prevention.

The achievement of Sustainable Development Goals by 2030 is possible if every goals are focused equally. So, the SDG 06 has also to be prioritized. For this, close cooperation and coordination among multiparties is must. Regular follow up of the regulated laws and policies on this goal has to be done. Treatment of water at it's source is must. Since, most of the people are being victim of several water borne diseases due to unsafe and unclean water. Localization of SDG is must. Adequate survey and data is also essential so that we can trace the progress and status and also make an analysis on further approach that can be adopted.