India and Nepal Sign MoU to Strengthen Cooperation in Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene Sector

New Delhi: In a significant step towards regional collaboration, India and Nepal signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) today to enhance cooperation in the Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) sector, including waste management. The signing ceremony, held at Sushma Swaraj Bhawan in New Delhi, was attended by Union Minister of Jal Shakti, C R Patil, and Nepal’s Minister of Water Supply, Pradeep Yadav.

The MoU establishes a framework for capacity building, technology transfer, and groundwater management between the two neighboring nations. It aims to ensure better access to clean drinking water and improved sanitation, reflecting the shared commitment of both governments to public health and sustainability. The agreement outlines key areas of collaboration, including training programs for Nepali personnel, sharing technological expertise, and joint efforts in groundwater monitoring and rainwater harvesting.

Speaking at the event, C R Patil highlighted India’s achievements in clean drinking water and sanitation under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He emphasized that the agreement underscores the strong India-Nepal partnership and the collective resolve to improve public health and environmental sustainability. Pradeep Yadav lauded India’s large-scale water and sanitation initiatives and expressed Nepal’s interest in learning from India’s experience. He also proposed regular bilateral meetings to facilitate knowledge exchange and ensure steady progress in implementing the MoU.

The ceremony was attended by senior officials from both countries, including Ambassador of India to Nepal, H.E. Naveen Srivastava, and Ambassador of Nepal to India, H.E. Dr. Shankar Prasad Sharma, along with Secretaries Debashree Mukherjee and Ashok Kumar Meena, and other distinguished delegates.