Piloting Koshi River Basin Management in Nepal

KATHMANDU, Nepal – The formulation of the Koshi River Basin Management as a pilot program, which has an integrated water resource and river basin management approach guided by the National Water Plan, was jointly initiated by Water and Energy Commission Secretariat (WECS) and WWF Nepal at a workshop in Kathmandu today.

This is the first initiative of its kind and the main objective was to explore partnerships and the formulation of a vision for Koshi River Basin Management (KBRM). Participants included representatives from the government, I/NGOs, the private sector, and experts working in development, water resources, and conservation.

Integrated water resource management (IWRM) acknowledges that freshwater is a finite and vulnerable resource, essential to sustain life, development and the environment. It proposes that each river basin system shall be managed holistically and in a systematic manner so that freshwater utilization is sustainable to ensure conservation of resources and protection of the environment.

Water use and management is a complex task, involving various sectors and a multitude of stakeholders. One of the challenging tasks of the National Water Plan, Nepal (2005) is the integration of all crosscutting sectors as well as individual water-related traditional subsectors. Chairing the workshop, Mr. Ram Krishna Tiwari, Executive Secretary, WECS expressed, “This initiation on KRBM will generate the necessary knowledge base on resources within Koshi River Basin to ensure its wise use.”

The importance of river basin management, instead of a project-to-project basis, lies in the inherent interrelation of water and land resources to form a unit. This approach focuses on promoting and coordinating development and management of water, land and related resources to maximize the resultant economic and social welfare in an equitable manner without compromising the sustainability of vital ecosystems. In this regard, Dr. Ghana Shyam Gurung, Director WWF Nepal opined, “KRBM is important for landscape level conservation. It vertically connects the landscape conservation initiative in the Terai Arc Landscape with the Sacred Himalayan Landscape.”

The workshop was guided by a presentation on IWRM as visualized in National Water Plan 2005 by Mr. Sanjay Dhugel, Sr. Div. Engg. and Significance of Koshi River Basin Management and its Approach by Ms. Neera Shrestha Pradhan , Program Manager-Freshwater, WWF followed by the a discussion session facilitated by Dr. Umesh Nath Parajuli, Executive Director, WECS.

The participants welcomed this innovative and joint initiative of WECS and WWF Nepal. They also provided valuable suggestions to move ahead in managing the Koshi River basin. WECS and WWF Nepal expressed their commitment to work with other partners and stakeholders in its management.