Security Through Knowledge (4) Lowering of ground water levels. (5) Lack of environmental awareness. (6) Landslides, erosion, sedimentation, flooding. (7) Watershed conservation. (8) Environmental database and mapping. g. Institutional. (1) Absence of an effective central planning organization. (2) Blurred responsibilities between policy, implementations, operational and regulatory institutions. (3) Absence of institutional framework for co-ordination and integrated development. h. Legal. (1) Non-specificity of water rights and ownership. (2) Lack of harmony among related legislation. (3) Lack of adequate legal provisions to encourage private sector participation in multipurpose projects. j. International. (1) Compliance with the provisions stipulated in earlier agreement with India, (2) Formulation of general legal framework for development of Trans-boundary Rivers. (3) Absence of mechanism for institutionalized co-operation, between riparian countries. CONSTRAINTS IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF WATER SECTOR, Socio-Economic Factor Nepal is one of the least developed countries in the world with a population of approximately 23 million and an annual growth rate of 2.4%. This increase in population combined with internal migration will present a major challenge to Nepal's economic development, a challenge that water resources sector must strive to meet. The estimated present population of Nepal and her projected population in 2027 assuming an annual growth rate of 2.1 % are shown in the Table 6 and 7 respectively. 105Water Resourves Development of Nepal: Assessment and Recommendation Table -6 Poe Category) Total Estimated Development Region | Population Eastern_[Central_ [Western [Mid Western[ Far Western | Terai | | Rural 9,268,500, 7,100 | 3,322,700 | 1.498.800) 1,012,500 707,400 Urban 1,564,900 558,700] 440,500 198,200 179,000, 188,500 Hills Rural $488,300 [1,637,900 | 2,177,000 | 2,527,600) 1,412,600 733,200 Urban 1,681,800 1,157,500 2.800 56,000, Mountains Rural 396,000 00] 308,500 393,400 Urban 22,300 2500] of Sub-total Rural 19,417,500 [4,761,600 | 6,039,400 | 4,048,900) 2,733,600 | 2,078,500 Urban 3,291,900. i 1,620,900] 541,500] 2,733,600 | _1,834,000 Total: | 22,709,400 5,414,800 | 7,660,300 | 4,590,400) 2,078,500 Table -7 Category |Total Estimated Development Region Population Eastern Central | Western [Mid Western [Far Western Rural 3,590,000] 5,059,000 | 2,374,000} 1,426,000 | 924,000 Urban, 5,535,000, { 2,055,000 634,000) 691,000 | 734,000 Hills Rural x 2,500,000] 1,491,000 | 3,560,000) 2,245,000 | 1,063,000 Urban, 6,265,000. 351,000] 4,288,000 | 1,199,000 197,000 | 230,000 Mountains Rural 2,614,000 588,000] 838,000] 36,000) 505,000 | 647,000 Urban 187,000. 91,000 96,000 0 0 0,00 Sub-total: Rural 26,845,000 | 6,678,000] 7,387,000 | 5,970,000] 4,176,000 | 2,633,000 Urban 11,987,000 | 2,496,000} 5,805,000 | 1,832,000) 889,000 | 964,000 Total: 38,832,000 | 9,174,000/13,192,000 | 7,802,000) 065,000 | 3.597,000a Nepal's GNP per capita is only about US $ 220 and, the corresponding growth rate in per capita output has remained very low in about 2% for many years. The agricultural sector dominates Nepal's economy, accounting for about 41 % of the GDP and employing close to 80% of the working population. Table 8 shows the comparison of the socio-economic indicator for a number of countries in South Asia. Table-8 era cee eC COL POR eT Bangladesh Maldives | Pakistan |China Socio-economic Data Population (million) | 23.4 | 998.1} 18.6 126.9 2.09 0.34 | 134.8 | 1,266.8 Average Population | 2.3% | 1.8%] 1.1% 1.6% 2.9% 24% | 0.9% Growth (1992-1998) GNP per capita 220] 450] 820 370 510 1,160 470 780 | (Atlas method, USS) GNP (Atlas method, |5.144] 22] 1578] 70 | o4 | 036 | 409] 02 US$ billion) P at market prices] 49] 4598] 197] 458 | 04 | 04 | saa} 912 (USS billion) LE Life Expectancy at | 570] 631) 733] sss | or | ora | oa] 699 Birt (years) Infant Mortality (per | 77.0} 700] 164] 728 | 9 | 306 | os] an 1000 live bi Male Miteracy (% of] 42% | 32%) 6%] 49m | 44% am | 41%] 9m Population age 15+ Female Iiteracy (% | 77% | 36%] 11%] Te | 72% 4% | 0%] 24% of Population age 154) Access to Safe Water| 81% | 88%] 836 7% | 2% | 100% | see] 75% (Ge of Popa ion) Roam (on Pi MA en aD Le ae ec) OO WECS, 2002. Nepal with 42% of its population living below the poverty line, life expectancy is 57 years, the lowest in South Asia. Infant mortality per 100 live birth is 83 and illiteracy is 62% the highest in South Asia. The above statistics i 107