Japanese provides assistance for the Project for Improving Living Environment of Communities through Prevention and Pollution Control of the Bagmati River by Local Community People in Kathmandu.

According to a press release issued by Embassy of Japan, the Government of Japan has decided to extend financial assistance of 133,709 US Dollars; equivalent to approximately 14,209,255 Nepalese Rupees to SOMNEED under the Grant Assistance for Japanese NGO Projects Scheme. SOMNEED is a NGO based in Japan which will provide technical and financial support to partner agency, SOMNEED-Nepal, to implement the Project for Improving Living Environment of Communities through Prevention and Pollution Control of the Bagmati River by Local Community People in Kathmandu.

The Grant Contract relating this project is scheduled to be signed and exchanged on 19th  May at the Embassy of Japan in Nepal between Mr. Shinya MACHIDA, Charge d’Affaires of Japan to Nepal, and  Nobuaki WADA, Resident Representative, SOMNEED.

This project aims to reduce  contamination of the Bagmati River through the construction of a water treatment systems in three different communities of Gokarna. In February 2014, the 1st phase of this three year project was implemented in Deshe Village, and from February 2015, the 2nd phase was implemented in Basnet Gaun under the support of Grant Assistance from the Japanese Government.

The grant assistance now provided will be used to implement the 3rd phase of the project in Naidol, Gokarneshower Municipality. This phase will be composed of three elements: 1) Construction of a Decentralized Wastewater Treatment Facility

To treat wastewater, which is now flowing directly into the Bagmati River, a wastewater treatment facility will be constructed in Naidol. This facility will be managed by the local people themselves from the 250 households which make up the village.

2)      Capacity Building Training for Local People

Support will be provided to local people in order that they can establish a Management Committee for maintaining the facility. Training will be given in the following areas: A) mechanism of pollution and the environment of the Bagmati, B) practical waste management, C) how the Users’ Group can maintain the wastewater treatment facility, and D) how to test the quality of the water.

3)      Training of Trainers

Training of trainers (TOT) will be provided to approximately 20 prospective trainers from the Deshe and Basnet community. Having already been involved in the 1st and 2nd phase, those chosen to be trainers will conduct part of the “Capacity Building Training” for the Naidol community, so they will develop the capacity to spread ideas and practical knowledge to the neighboring communities.