The two-day international water meet – Dhaka Water Conference 2017 – ended here on Sunday adopting the Dhaka Declaration with a vow to work together to address the world’s growing water challenges and ensure universal and equitable access to safe and affordable drinking water by 2030.
The Dhaka Declaration on Water was pronounced at the concluding ceremony of the water meet at Sonargaon Hotel in the afternoon.
LGRD and Cooperatives Minister Khandker Mosharraf Hossain, Sri Lankan Minister for Urban Development, Water Supply and Drainage Abdul Rauff Hibbathul Hakeem, and Water and Energy Minister of Afghanistan Ali Ahmad Osmani, among others, spoke on the occasion with Principal Secretary of the Prime Minister’s Office Dr Kamal Abdul Naser Chowdhury in the chair.
The Dhaka Declaration supports to achieve access to adequate and equitable sanitation and hygiene for all, and end open defecation, paying special attention to the needs of women, girls and those in vulnerable condition by 2030.
It stressed the need for ensuring adequate inclusive, environmentally sound, climate-resilient and safely managed sanitation facilities and hygienic practices, including but not limited to educational and health facilities, transport and public places.
The declaration called for expanding international and regional cooperation in water and wastewater management to avail technical assistance and financing (including climate funds).
The world leaders who attended the conference agreed to improve and preserve the quality of natural surface water and groundwater through implementation of strict pollution control measures against discharge of untreated domestic sewage and industrial wastewaters by adopting advanced wastewater technologies.
They pledged to combat physical and economic water scarcity by efficient use of water in all sectors, particularly in agriculture and industrial sectors, limiting withdrawal of water within regeneration capacity, recycling and reuse of water, and by avoidance of misuse and abuse of water.
The declaration recognised the multiple values of water (social, cultural, spiritual, environmental and economic) to enable more informed choices about the use and allocation of precious water resources.
It suggested adopting basin-based ecological and integrated water resources management approach and transboundary cooperation in common rivers and aquifer management for sustained economic growth in the region.
Speaking on the occasion, Mosharraf Hossain said he believed that the Dhaka Declaration will be a remarkable milestone towards achieving the challenges dealing with goal-6 of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). “I hope that the commitment of Dhaka Declaration will come into reality through coordinated efforts of the participating countries,” he said.
The Dhaka Declaration underscored the need for protecting ecologically sensitive areas, restoring damaged ecosystem, and aligning development activities to halt decline of natural ecosystem, aiming to protect biodiversity and ensure uninterrupted ecological services.
It also suggested strengthening enabling environment, including but not limited to development/revision of national policies, strategies, regulation, and plans focusing on better water management leading to attainment of water-related SDG targets.
The declaration emphasis on promoting continual learning and sharing of knowledge, experience, innovation and good practice within and among the regional countries through meetings, seminars and conferences.
Some 82 representatives from 23 countries in South Asia, South-East Asia, East Asia and delta collation region attended the two-day water conference.
The event discussed water supply, sanitation, sharing experience, identifying problems and finding their solutions to attain the goal-6 of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG-6).
Earlier, on Saturday, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina inaugurated the Dhaka Water Conference 2017 at Sonargaon Hotel.
