JEEVAN RIJAL CHHETRI (R.C.

)
ASSISTANT PROFESSOR, Agricultural Economics.
CAMPUS OF LIVE SCIENCES
TULSIPUR,DANG

Assistant Prof. Jeevan R.C.

Water resources, water management, plan, policy
and performance on water resources of Nepal
'Water is a precious gift of nature, essential for human [sic and other
creatures'] survival. Without water, life on earth cannot be sustained.
Water is required for basic human needs such as drinking, cooking and
bathing, for irrigation to grow crops, for hydropower to produce energy,
for industry and for the environment. Water is also inherent component
of the ecological chain on which all life and life-supporting systems
depend. In Nepal and other Himalayan Societies, water from the
mountains also has important cultural and spiritual significance.'
-Water Resources Strategy(WRC) Nepal 2002

Assistant Prof. Jeevan R.C.

• A longstanding myth puts Nepal at the top slot among hydropower rich
countries in the world, only next to Brazil. But nobody bothers to know how
much hydropower Brazil generates.
• In truth, Nepal is importing over 400 MW of electricity from India to end its
long hours of load shedding. The country generates just over 700 MW.
• Another myth makes Nepal noted for its riches in water resources. The
reality, however is large agricultural land relies on the erratic monsoon rains
for irrigation with only 20% land benefitting from regular irrigation facility.
• With the growing population, water demand has grown for religious and
cultural purposes as well. The diversion of water for irrigation and
hydropower has affected the rituals in the lower riparian belts. The
increased level of water pollution has also affected the lifestyle of the
people.
• More than twenty percent people are far from getting access to drinking
water.
Assistant Prof. Jeevan R.C.
• The National Water Resources Policy states ‘Even though the stock of
water resources overall is seen to be in abundance in Nepal, the resources
have not been made available in the appropriate quantity where and
when they are needed. It is certain that the pressure on this important
resource will increase in the coming years due to the likely scarcity of
water caused by the ever increasing population and climate change’
• The potentiality of water resource in Nepal is so huge that for Its efficient
and optimum usage would not only help Nepal to build a strong economy,
but could also substantially contribute to development of the countries of
the Ganga Basin.

Assistant Prof. Jeevan R.C.

Water Availability, its current Use and demand :
• An estimated annual runoff from the rivers (6,000 rivers and rivulets) of Nepal
'is 220 billion cubic meters, with an average annual precipitation of 1530 mm.
• Nepal has utilized mainly medium and small rivers for different uses such as
drinking water, irrigation and hydropower. The larger and perennial Himalayan
Rivers, except for a few run-of the-river schemes, have been virtually left
untapped.
• The total demand for water for domestic use, irrigation purpose , industrial
purpose, and generating hydro electric power (of which the last one is for non
consumptive purpose) in the year 2027 would be 98,980 million m3 compared
to 14,880 m3 in 2000 according to WRS.

Assistant Prof. Jeevan R.C.

Government policies, strategies and plans:
• The government has been following the sectorial approach to the
development of the water resources since the beginning of first five year
plan (1956).
• As such, the system of having separate chapters for different water
related subjects, such as energy, irrigation, drinking water and sanitation
etc. in the national periodic plans along with the long term plans, for
example, the Agriculture Perspective Plan (APP) 1995, the Irrigation
Master Plan 1990, the River Basin Master Plan (for example Koshi Basin
1985) etc. has been the practice.
• It was only in 1992 the government framed and implemented an
umbrella law for water, i.e. The Water Resources Act 1992. Based on its
features, this act can be called the first overall policy as well as a law on
water resources.
Assistant Prof. Jeevan R.C.
• As per its preamble the act was:
‘enacted to make arrangements for the rational utilization, conservation,
management and development of the water resources (surface water,
underground water or water in whatsoever form), and to make legal
arrangements for determining beneficial uses of water resources,
preventing environmental and other hazardous effects thereof and also for
keeping water resources free from pollution’

Assistant Prof. Jeevan R.C.

Specific objectives adopted for WRS include: (policy objectives)
• Help reduce the incidence of poverty, unemployment and under-
employment.
• Provide access to safe and adequate drinking water and sanitation for
ensuring health security.
• Increase agricultural production, ensuring the nation’s food security.
• Generate hydropower to satisfy national energy requirements and to allow
for export of surplus energy.
• Supply the needs of the industrial sector and other sectors of the economy.
• Facilitate water transport, particularly connection to a seaport.
• Protect the environment and sustain the biodiversity of natural habitat.
• Prevent and mitigate water-induced disasters.

Assistant Prof. Jeevan R.C.

 Importance of water policy:
• For various reasons, the market mechanism cannot be expected to work perfectly
for water management and public policy must intervene in some form. From the
economist's point of view fixed cost for water system are typically high.
• Water is essential for consumption and production purpose
• Water policy is an important issue for environment economists because demand
and supply depends on so many technical and ecological parameters.
• Policy makers of France, Germany and Netherlands were among the first to use
the ecosystem approach to water resource policy.
• Water has been considered a free good.
• In many cases, ignorance about protection of water cycle, misuse, lack of
management and legal structures are the main cause of water scarcity or stress.
• Although water is scarce is some countries because of low rainfall, many of the
current water shortages are due to the lack of adequate policy, particularly with
respect to pricing. In some counties like Costarica, Laos, Nepal, rain is abounded
but water is scarce.
Assistant Prof. Jeevan R.C.
Assistant Prof. Jeevan R.C.
Thus, the policies and strategies seek:
• to make transparent arrangements for water sharing, based on evidence
and scientific analysis, among various users for the achievement of
maximum benefits from water resources in terms of drinking water,
irrigation, agriculture and animal husbandry, hydropower, industrial uses,
recreation and land navigation, and religious, cultural and environmental
use.
• The water resources shall be developed and managed as per the
integrated water resource management principles, by comprehensively
considering each basis in its entirety. Concerned basins will have water
transfer for the maximum economic, social and environmental benefits.

Assistant Prof. Jeevan R.C.

• Nepal's rivers contribute 45% of the Ganges annual flow, and 75% of the driest month's
average.
• It is estimated that the 200,000 million cubic meter annual runoff from Nepalese rivers is
underused and, at times, causes a severe, hazardous flood in Nepal, India and Bangladesh
(Still and Kirkby, 1991).
• Major rivers originate in the high Himalayas. There are three major river systems in Nepal,
namely, Koshi, Gandaki and Karnali. Each have several tributaries. The permanent shown
area and 80 glaciers on the high Himalayas make the largest rivers perennial.
• Nepal rivers are classified into three classes based on their origin.
• Rivers in class I originate in the high Himalayas above the snow line and have a sustained
dry season flow due to snow melt. The class II rivers originate below the snow line in the
slopes of the Mahabharat mountains which are perennial but have a low dry season flow.
• The class III rivers originate in the Siwalik ranges and southern slopes of the Mahabharat
mountains. These rivers are ephemeral and flashy with watersheds that are geologically
fragile, erodable and are deteriorating fast due to population pressure. Nepal's Terai belt
has rechargeable ground water potential, which occurs in both artesian and non-artesian
aquifers.
Assistant Prof. Jeevan R.C.