In-person workshop on
"Water Safety Solutions for Nepal's Traditional Hitis"
(In collaboration with Jyapu Academy)
Embedded Files
Problems, emerging solutions, policy and discussions
Manga Hiti (c. 492-570 AD), the oldest Hiti still in use.
Photo credit: S Pakrin
Water Safety Solutions for Nepal's Traditional Hitis
Water Safety Solutions for Nepal's Traditional Hitis
(A workshop in collaboration with Jyapu Academy)
Predating the Licchavi Period (<400 AD), Kathmandu Valley's traditional stone water spouts, called "hiti" or "dhunge dhara", are still a vital part of the water supply system providing the water needs of about 10% of the population in the valley. They channel water from ponds and underground aquifers through subterranean structures and embody underground filtration systems. However, many infrastructure for channeling and filtering the water in many hiti systems have been lost, and many others are defunct. The remaining hiti system requires regular monitoring, conservation, and revitalization efforts. Recent cholera outbreaks have underscored the importance of raising public awareness around water intake sanitation management, monitoring and disinfection. This workshop, being co-organized with the Jyapu Academy, will focus on discussing together with the communities around these issues, and also finding out if the emerging AI and optics based solutions can be employed to preserve this historically significant heritage while enhancing their safety.
नेपालको परम्परागत हितिहरूको पानी सुरक्षा र समाधानहरू
नेपालको परम्परागत हितिहरूको पानी सुरक्षा र समाधानहरू
(ज्यापु प्रज्ञा प्रतिष्ठानसँगको सहकार्यमा कार्यशाला)
लिच्छवी काल (<४०० ईस्वी) भन्दा पहिलेदेखि नै प्रयोगमा आईरहेका काठमाडौं उपत्यकाका परम्परागत हितिहरू, अझै पनि उपत्यकाका लगभग १०% जनसंख्याको खानेपानी आपूर्ति प्रणालीका महत्त्वपूर्ण अंग हुन्। प्राय: हितिहरूको पानी पोखरी, वा भूमिगत स्रोतहरूबाट जमीन मुनीका संरचनाहरूमा छानिदै धारा सम्म आइपुग्छन् । यद्यपि, हिति प्रणाली वरपरका धेरै यस्ता पूर्वाधारहरू हराइसकेका छन्, र अन्य धेरै निष्क्रिय छन्। रहेका हिति प्रणालीलाई संरक्षण, अनुगमन, र पुनरुत्थान प्रयासहरू आवश्यक छ। हालैका हैजाको प्रकोपले पानी व्यवस्थापन, अनुगमन र कीटाणुशोधनको बारेमा जनचेतना जगाउने महत्त्वलाई जोड दिएको छ।
ज्यापु प्रज्ञा प्रतिष्ठानसँगको सहकार्यमा आयोजना हुने यो कार्यशालाले यी मुद्दाहरू वरिपरि समुदायहरूसँग छलफल गर्ने र यस ऐतिहासिक रूपमा महत्त्वपूर्ण सम्पदाको सुरक्षा बढाउँदै संरक्षण गर्न उदीयमान एआई र अप्टिक्समा आधारित समाधानहरू प्रयोग गर्न सकिन्छ कि भन्ने कुरामा केन्द्रित हुनेछ।
नेपालय् परम्परागत हितिया निंतिं लः सुरक्षाया समाधान
नेपालय् परम्परागत हितिया निंतिं लः सुरक्षाया समाधान
(ज्यापु प्रज्ञा प्रतिष्ठानया सहकार्यय् कार्यशाला)
लिच्छविकाल (४०० ई.) न्ह्यःनिसें लः हाया च्वोंगु काठमाण्डौं उपत्यकाया झिगु परम्परागत हिति त आः नं उपत्यकाया करिब १०% जनसंख्याया निंतिं लः आपूर्ति प्रणालीया छगू महत्वपूर्ण भाग जुयाच्वंगु दु । अपोयाना हितिइ वइगु लः पुखू वा भूमिगत स्रोतं वइ, भूमिगत संरचनांय् हे फिल्टर जुइ, अले तिनी झिसं खनाच्वंगु हिति थ्यनि । अथे जुसां हिति प्रणालीया जःखः या थ्व पूर्वाधारया यक्कु भाग मदयेधुंकल अथवा निष्क्रिय जुयाच्वंगु दु । बाकि दनिगु हितिया प्रणालि तनं संरक्षण, अनुगमन व पुनःस्थापना यायेगु कुतः यायमागु आवश्यक खनेदु । लिपांगु इलय् हैजाया प्रकोपं लःया व्यवस्थापन, अनुगमन, व कीटाणु प्रशोधनया बारे जनचेतना हयेगु महत्व यात उजागर याःगु दु ।
ज्यापु प्रज्ञा प्रतिष्ठानया सहकार्य नापं जुइगु थुगु कार्यशालाय् थुपिं विषयले झिगु समुदाय नापं दुग्यंक छलफल यायेगु व थुगु ऐतिहासिक रुपं महत्वपूर्ण सम्पदाया संरक्षण व संरक्षणयात उदयमान एआई प्रविधि व प्रकाशय आधारित समाधान प्रयोग यायेफइला धैगु विषयले केन्द्रित जुइ ।
Summary of the Workshop
Hiti systems are marvelous water-management and supply heritage still serving the community, and must be saved for its cultural significance as well as their significance as an important water supply system in the valley.
There are concerns voiced by the communities
in water quality due to infiltration of sewage to the aquifers due to haphazard urbanization in the critical water-channels.
lack of information about water quality in the hitis. The last data that Prof. Padma Sundar had was from 2009, when 2 out of 9 hitis that were sampled had fecal contamination. Recent contaminations however may have risen.
Modern technologies based on advanced optics and artificial intelligence can be used, among other things, for
rapid testing to ensure water safety,
mapping ancient underground water conduits and aquifer systems,
understanding sewage infiltration pathways, and
water origin analysis, etc
Public engagement and awareness is critical to maintain the safety of hiti water systems.
Number of participants: 84
Number of participants: 84
In this session, the organizers focused on community engagement with emphasis on awareness regarding history, preservation and safety of hiti system, and how modern technologies can be used to this end. Participants from relevant industries, researchers, students and academics of Jyapu Academy and Madan Bhandari University of Science and Technology discussed how we all can work together to ensure a incessant and safe hiti water for decades to come.
Participants in our in-person workshop (21 Nov, 2024)
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