Month: April 2026

The fourth session of the Urban Dabali series, titled “Sustainable Urban Mobility for Livable Cities,” was held on 30 April 2026 at Sajha Southasia Centre, Pulchowk, Lalitpur. The session brought together policymakers, experts, practitioners, academics, and other stakeholders to discuss urban planning, mobility, public transport, and urban safety, with a focus on creating inclusive, sustainable, and people-centered cities. The program was hosted by Mr. Sudarshan Rajbhandari, with opening remarks from Mr. Niraj Acharya of Helvetas Nepal. The key presenter Mr. Sagar Onta, Transportation Expert, delivered the keynote presentation, followed by a panel discussion moderated by Ms. Rija Joshi, Executive Director of CIUD. The panel included Prof. Dr. Sangeeta Singh, Mr. Ashish Gajurel, Mr. Bhushan Tuladhar, and Ms. Nilima Thapa Shrestha. The discussion highlighted major challenges in Kathmandu Valley, including limited…

The third session of CIUD’s Urban Dabali series, titled “Addressing Groundwater Issues of Terai Plains of Nepal,” was held on 30 March 2026 at Universal Engineering and Science College, Lalitpur. The third session focused on the increasing challenges surrounding groundwater availability, quality, and management in Nepal’s Terai region. The session was organized in connection with World Water Day and was aimed to raise awareness about groundwater depletion, share technical and field-based knowledge along with the promotion of integrated, climate-resilient groundwater management. The program began with remarks from Rija Joshi, Executive Director of CIUD, who emphasized the importance of collaborative and actionable dialogue among local governments and stakeholders. Badri Manandhar from Helvetas Nepal highlighted the dual challenges of declining groundwater levels and deteriorating water quality resulting from over-extraction, urbanization, and agricultural…