Integrated Water Resource Management (IWRM): A Case Study of Durlung Watershed, Bagmati Zone, Nepal

Abstract

Water in Nepal is a key strategic natural resource, which has potential to leads all round development and economic growth of the country. Integrated Water Resource Management (IWRM) is a holistic management approach, integrating land water interaction, socio-economic groups, upstream downstream relations, indigenous knowledge, and institutions built up, along the temporal dimensions based on an agreed set of principles. It is a Bottom-up decentralized approach for the management of water resources. IWRM is a challenge to conventional practices, attitudes and professional certainties. It confronts entrenched sectoral interest and requires that the water resources are managed holistically for the benefits of all.The broad objective of the multidisciplinary study was to assess the possibilities of human dimensions of water resource development and its management. Water resource accounting is done by the collection of water resources data through participatory group formation. Scientific data of hydro and metrological stations was also acquired. Hydrological modeling tools were also used. Feasibility of hydropower plant and potential of power production in the basin was readily estimated.Total daily discharge of the Durlung Watershed was estimated on an average as 157 Million Liters. Rivers of the watershed are turbulent, unsteady and flowing with very high current, which can be utilized by local people for low cost drinking water, tourism, irrigation and hydropower generation. Micro-hydropower production possibilities in Ratan and Deuta River has shown multidimensional positive impacts on socio-economic development of the region level of community partnership in IWRM and synchronization with the Local, District and National level institutional framework for Basin Management was observed to be satisfactory. Participatory research was carried out to identify water resource base with school and community partnership. Community motive, their difficulties and gaps in community level organization were identified. Capabilities of community, to take over the responsibilities of IWRM concept, there is a lot more need of training and capacity building for now.

Postmodern Transformations of Tourism Development

“…Since the formation of the Water and Energy Commission Secretariat (WECS) in 1975, Nepal has launched various efforts to manage its river basins. Based on the recommendation from the WECS and other studies about water resource management, the government realizes the importance of IWRM, and internalized its program in subsequent periodic five-year development plans of the country (Khanna et al, 2016). Table 2 shows the different sectoral policies related to basin management.…”

“…The government has also introduced policies to support the role of the public/private sector in hydropower development. The Community-Based Water Resource Development and Management (CBWRDM) programme is being carried out in different locations; however, it is implemented at the local level scale such as in the Durlung watershed (Khanna et al, 2016).…”

Integrated water resource management to address the growing demand for food and water in South Asia*

“…The Water Resources Act 1992, which is the first overall strategy as well as an umbrella law on water resources, has prioritized the uses of water resources as drinking and domestic users, irrigation, animal husbandry and fisheries, hydroelectricity, cottage industries, industrial enterprises, and mining uses. However, in many river basins, hydropower production has been given more emphasis for economic benefits (Khanna et al, 2016), while the economic condition of the people is mainly dependent on agricultural products.…”

“…However, the existing institutional set-up is inept to apply IWRM. In addition, communities are not capable to take over the responsibilities of an IWRM concept (Khanna et al, 2016).…”

Evaluación de los efectos de aplicación de una política de gestión del agua de riego en los agricultores de dos zonas de Ecuador

“…Las experiencias de su adopción dentro de las políticas públicas de varios países, sin embargo, tienen una historia más reciente. La regulación institucional es uno de los pasos que con mayor dificultad emprenden los países, con el fin de implementar instrumentos para la gestión del agua para la equidad social, eficiencia económica y sustentabilidad ecológica (Khanna et al, 2016). Se estima que cerca del 80% de los países han realizado esfuerzos para implementar los GIRH dentro de su normativa (UNEP, 2012).…”