PressAdda
Kathmandu . As a part of its Water Stewardship efforts, Coca-Cola Beverages Nepal announces four new projects for the year 2023-2024 including the rejuvenation of Baisdhara in Balaju Park, and WASH systems as well as Rain Water Harvesting & Groundwater recharge projects in Pokhara and Bharatpur. These water stewardship projects are in support of Coca-Cola’s strong commitment towards its 2030 Water Security Strategy which focuses on increasing water security through a context-based approach of water replenishment, advocacy for smart water policies, and responsible water use across our operations and supply chain.
Coca-Cola Beverages Nepal is partnering with Centre for Integrated Urban Development (CIUD) with technical support from WaterAid Nepal, for a groundwater recharge project which will help in the rejuvenation of the dried stone spouts in Baishdhara- Balaju Park. The project includes installation of recharge trench (Rain Garden), 21 recharge wells, slope protection and Surface/Underdrainage work. The project aims to replenish 30,000 KL per annum from the forest and park area which will help address the increased demand for urban water. Through this joint effort, the project should not only help maintain the groundwater table of the peripheral areas but also help make communities and local authorities aware of the types of initiatives that can help communities cope with acute water shortage due to rapid urbanization.
Tripti Rai Country Director of WaterAid Nepal shared, “Partnerships and collaboration are absolutely necessary for us to accelerate progress to meet the commitments and targets of the Sustainable Development Goal 6 to ‘Ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all’. Innovations and crucial initiatives such as ones supported by the Coca Cola system to drive Water Stewardship help us move closer to that Goal.”
Sudarshan Rajbhandari, Executive Director of CIUD shared, “The mission of CIUD is to promote and facilitate state of art methodologies and technologies in establishing vibrant, productive, participatory and sustainable cities in Nepal. We are humbled to partner with Coca-Cola Beverages Nepal to execute water solutions in areas where the communities will be benefited for many years to come.”
To provide access to clean drinking water at schools and handwashing facilities (WASH), the company has also partnered with Splash Nepal for 2 separate projects in this year. The first project will be in Pokhara at Sainik Awasiya Mahavidyalaya where Drinking Water and Hand Washing Stations will be established along with a Rain Water Harvesting system which is anticipated to provide about half of the demand for more than 1300 students, and a larger team of teachers and administrative staff that reside on this residential campus.
Likewise, another project with Splash Nepal will be established in four different locations across Bharatpur to establish rain water harvesting system and provide safe drinking water to school going children in four different public schools. In Kathmandu, Splash Nepal will help establish a drinking filtration unit within a Child Care facility of the Balaju Industrial District.
Pradeep Khadka, Executive Director from Splash Nepal shared, “Splash Nepal believes that the accessibility of clean safe drinking water, better hygiene education and functional sanitation facilities are the basic rights of the beneficiaries, and this can only be achieved through a better technical solution and long-term collaborative partnerships. Splash Nepal is proud to partner with Coca-Cola Beverages Nepal for Water Stewardship projects within Kathmandu Valley, Pokhara Chitwan that has and will keep increasing the resilience of the communities reached.”
In the past, CCBN has worked very closely with SmartPaani, investing in Rain Water Harvesting and Ground Water Recharge Projects which have been implemented in areas such as Teaching Hospital and Pulchowk Engineering College and Budhanilkantha school A representative from SmartPaani commented, “SmartPaani believes Every Drop Counts, and the importance of rainwater harvesting and groundwater recharge in ensuring better water supply, protecting water sources, reducing urban floods, and adapting to climate change. SmartPaani is proud to be partnering with a responsible organization such as Coca-Cola for their water stewardship projects.”
Our initiatives on Water in Nepal are guided by our global framework of Reduce, Reuse and Replenish and their interconnected principles. Through an integrated water resource management approach, Coca-Cola partners with various organizations on projects for rainwater harvesting, ground water recharge and lake restoration.
Over the last decade, Coca-Cola Beverages Nepal has completed 8 water stewardship projects and now has four projects in the 2023 pipeline.
Mr. G. Deepak Senthilnath, Managing Director of CCBN shares, “These projects enhance community resilience over time in terms of empowering communities especially women who are affected the most from climate change, increasing access to safe drinking water for school going students and ultimately improved livelihoods for all. We are proud to collaborate with all of our sustainability partners for a better shared value for our communities in Nepal.”
About Coca-Cola Beverages in Nepal
Coca-Cola Beverages Nepal refreshes consumers across the country through its core product offerings of Coca-Cola, Sprite, Fanta and Kinley, and impacts thousands as a System. The company works with WaterAid Nepal, CUID, Smartpaani and Splash on innovative integrated water management solutions for water conservation, water replenishment and to improve livelihoods of communities which has made Coca-Cola a water positive company. As part of The Coca-Cola Company’s global commitment towards a ‘World Without Waste’, Coca-Cola Beverages Nepal has been working with partners like Doko Recyclers to support the global mission to collect and recycle every bottle we sell by 2030. Through the Saksham program, Coca-Cola Beverages Nepal and Coca-Cola Nepal are empowering over 2000 women retailers by providing trainings on financial literacy, hospitality, and sanitation management, and use of digital wallet. Coca-Cola Beverages Nepal continually engages in locally relevant initiations to bring about a positive difference to the lives of communities across the country.
