Nepal is well known in the World for being richest country in water resources but it is surprising that Nepal is yet to formulate its ‘Water Resource Policy’. The Water and Energy Commission Secretariat is preparing ‘National Water Resource Policy’ for the first time with the help of local experts. The experts appointed by the World Bank, Asian Development Bank and other donor agencies have already formulated regional policies.

“We are preparing to complete the ‘National Water Resource Policy’ within next six months,” said Kishore Thapa, secretary at the WEC Secretariat, adding, “This is the first ever water resource policy in Nepal.” According to him, the policies formulated so far are related only with a particular region and focuses more on the benefits only. Integrated management, water resource conservation, water induced disaster control and usage will be the prime objectives of the new policy.

There are separate policies related to irrigation, electricity, urban and rural drinking water and sanitation. Thapa pointed out the need of an integrated policy as the earlier policies were formulated without coordination with other regions.  “The new policy will be based on river basin (as a watershed),” he added. Koshi, Gandak, Karnali and Mahakali are the biggest river basins in Nepal. Thapa told that the new policy will stress on the usage of water in the river basins.
Sanjaya Dhungel, a senior divisional engineer at the WEC Secretariat told that the new policy will focus on the conservation of watershed area, wetlands, ponds, lakes, water source, water holes, dug-wells and stonespouts. The draft policy includes the conservation of river and underground water resources, rainwater harvesting, construction of wetlands and discourages misuse and unnecessary use of water.

Source: Kantipur, January 19, 2010