Organized jointly by

Water and Energy Commission Secretariat (WECS)Government of Nepal

andWWF Nepal

The Global Conservation Organization

Kathmandu, Nepal9 August, 2007

Proceedings of the Workshop on

Koshi River Basin Management

Proceedings of the Working Session on

Koshi River Basin Management

Kathmandu, Nepal9 August, 2007

Organized jointly by

Water and Energy Commission Secretariat (WECS)Government of Nepal

andWWF Nepal

© WWF Nepal 2007

Published by WWF Nepal.

Any reproduction in full or in part of this publication must mention the title and credit the above-mentionedpublisher as the copyright owner.

Compiled by:Ajay B. Mathema, Consultant - Koshi River Basin Management, WWF Nepal

Editorial support:Mr. Sanjiv Chaudhary, Communications Officer, WWF Nepal

Photos: © WWF Nepal/ Neera Shrestha PRADHAN

Citation: WWF Nepal, 2007, Proceedings of the Working Session on Koshi River Basin Management,9 August, 2007, Kathmandu, Nepal

Opinions expressed in the presentations and discussion sessions of this volume do not necessarily reflect

those of WWF Nepal.

Koshi River Basin Management (KRBM) has taken a step forward in realizing the National WaterPlan, which was endorsed by the Government of Nepal on September 2005. For the integratedmanagement of water resources, it is essential that stakeholders from all the sectors join hands tomake it a success.

We are happy that WWF Nepal, the Global Conservation Organization, has taken the initiative tosupport Water and Energy Commission Secretariat (WECS) and signed a MoU on 22 June 2007 tocarry this process ahead.

Today's working session has brought most of the relevant stakeholders on one table to discusstheir ongoing activities and future interest for the integrated management of Koshi River Basin.

Finally, I would like to thank WWF Nepal for supporting WECS to organize this working session forthe preparation of a strategic document on KRBM. I am confident that the outcome of this workingsession will formulate a KRBM working group to discuss on relevant issues as and whennecessary, plan for the integrated management of Koshi River Basin and support in itsimplementation.

Ram Krishna TiwariSecretaryWater and Energy Commission SecretariatGovernment of Nepal

Foreword

III

V

Foreword

"Koshi River Basin Management (KRBM) cannot succeed in the absence of genuine and effectiveparticipation of its relevant stakeholders."

The challenge is to create workable institutional mechanisms that offer opportunities to promotedeeper and wider participation. This will depend on how all the relevant stakeholders work togetherin planning and implementing the KRBM strategy that will be developed in the leadership of WECS.

The global policy framework underpinning the current and unprecedented focus on IWRM isessentially provided by the closely associated Millennium Development Goals agreed by the UnitedNations (UN Millennium Project, 2005), and the Johannesburg Plan of Implementation, arising fromthe 2002 World Summit on Sustainable Development. These provide the framework for making theimportant connection between water resources management and poverty reduction, and therebyimproving the inter-linkages between policy-making and implementing bodies that approach waterresource management from an environmental/ecosystem and water use perspective.

I am confident that the working session will be a milestone in realizing the National Water Plan2005 and piloting IWRM in Koshi basin. WWF Nepal is committed towards the success of KRBMand has signed a MoU to support the Government of Nepal in this initiative.

Anil ManandharCountry RepresentativeWWF Nepal

Foreword ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ III

Acronym ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- VIII

1 Background ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 1

2 Koshi River Basin: An Overview --------------------------------------------------------------------- 2

3 Working Session for Partnership Building ------------------------------------------------------- 4

3.1 Objectives --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 4

3.2 Agenda ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 4

3.3 Participants-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 5

3.4 Inaugural Session ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 5

4 Presentation------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 6

5 Working Session --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 10

5.1 Decisions of the Working Session ------------------------------------------------------------------- 11

6 Concluding Session ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 12

Annex 1: Agenda of the Workshop ------------------------------------------------------------------ 14

Annex 2: List of Participants -------------------------------------------------------------------------- 15

Annex 3: Outcome of the Study --------------------------------------------------------------------- 16

Table of Contents

VII

Acronyms

VIII

DDC District Development Committee

DHM Department of Hydrology and Metrology

DWSC Department of Watershed and Soil Conservation

GON Government of Nepal

IRBM Integrated River Basin Management

IWRM Integrated Water Resources Management

KRBM Koshi River Basin Management

MOU Memorandum of Understanding

RBO-K River Basin Office for Koshi

WECS Water and Energy Commission Secretariat

WWF World Wildlife Fund

1

P R O C E E D I N G S O F T H E W O R K I N GS E S S I O N O N K O S H I R I V E R B A S I N M A N A G E M E N T

Water and Energy Commission Secretariat (WECS), Government of Nepal andWWF Nepal have taken the initiative of formulating the Koshi River BasinManagement Program. This program will pilot Integrated River BasinManagement (IRBM) approach in managing water and related resources in theKoshi River Basin as guided by the National Water Plan 2005.

The National Water Plan 2005 has provided clear-cut policy direction formanaging the resources with the application of Integrated Water ResourcesManagement (IWRM) at river basin scale for management of the resourcessustainably, equitably, and efficiently. WECS and WWF Nepal started workingtogether in 2006 and signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on 22June 2007 to formalize their effort and commitment towards implementation ofthe KRBM program.

The MOU has specified the role of WECS and WWF Nepal as a facilitator informulation and implementation of KRBM program. One of the immediatetargets set by the MOU is to build partnership for KRBM program by bringingin the concerned and relevant stakeholders from grassroots to central levels,for formulation and implementation of the KRBM program.

1Background

2

P R O C E E D I N G S O F T H E W O R K I N GS E S S I O N O N K O S H I R I V E R B A S I N M A N A G E M E N T

Koshi River Basin: An Overview

Koshi River Basin is one of the three major river basins of Nepal feeding theGanges River basin in India. It was estimated that only 45.6 per cent of totalarea of the basin i.e. 27,533 Km2 is located within Nepalese territory, whereasremaining 54.4 per cent, i.e. 32.847 Km2 is located in Tibet (WECS 1999).The Basin within Nepalese territory extends from the Himalayan range,including southern slope of the Mount Everest, to the Nepal-India Border,covering 17 districts of Eastern Development Region and Central developmentRegion (Refer to figures 1, 2, 3 and 4).

2

Figure 2: Koshi River Basin with respect to Ganges Basin

2

SunkoshiRiver (3)

Sapta KoshiRiver (4)

Triveni,BarahaChhetra

KhimtiRiver (1)

MelamchiRiver (1)

Figure 1: Stream ordering of the Sapta Koshi River

IndrawatiRiver (2)

TamakoshiRiver (2)

LikhuRiver (2)

DudhukoshiRiver (2)

ArunRiver (3)

TamorRiver (3)

3

P R O C E E D I N G S O F T H E W O R K I N GS E S S I O N O N K O S H I R I V E R B A S I N M A N A G E M E N T

3

Figure 3: DIstrict Coverage of KRBM

Figure 4: Sub-river basins of the KRBM

4

P R O C E E D I N G S O F T H E W O R K I N GS E S S I O N O N K O S H I R I V E R B A S I N M A N A G E M E N T

Working Session forPartnership Building

3WECS and WWF Nepal have alreadyundertaken two national level workshops onKoshi River basin management as follows:

1. 3rd January 2007: The objective was toshare the concept on Koshi River BasinManagement with centre level stakeholdersand formulate the vision for KRBM.

2. 22nd March 2007: The objective was to call for cooperation andcoordination among stakeholders in effectively implementing IWRMapproach in Koshi basin management.

This working session was organized as the follow up to formalization of theKRBM working group. KRBM working group will be the body for formulation ofthe strategic vision and program for the KRBM. Furthermore, this body willalso have crucial role in the implementation by developing and implementingprojects within the framework of KRBM through the local communityorganizations, NGOs, and users' group.

3.1 Objectives

The objectives of the working session were to:

1. Formalize the KRBM working group2. Discuss on the possible thematic areas to be addressed by KRBM3. Discuss on areas of interest of partners and their integration in the KRBM

initiative

3.2 Agenda

A half-day Working Session, chaired by Mr Ram Krishna Tiwari, Secretary ofWECS, was organized on 9 August 2007 in Kathmandu, which was dividedinto three parts - (a) Inaugural Session, (b) Presentation, and (c) WorkingSession. (Refer Annex 1).

5

P R O C E E D I N G S O F T H E W O R K I N GS E S S I O N O N K O S H I R I V E R B A S I N M A N A G E M E N T

3.3 Participants

A total of 27 participants from government, non government, international agencies, and concernedstakeholders attended the working session. The list of participants and their contact addressed arepresented in Annex 2.

3.4 Inaugural Session

The workshop began under the chairmanship of Mr Ram Krishna Tiwari, Secretary, WECS. Mr.Suresh Raj Uprety, Joint Secretary welcomed the workshop participants. In the welcome speech,Mr. Upreti highlighted the objectives of the working session and emphasized the role andcommitment of partners in taking KRBM initiative forward. Hence, the success of KRBM initiativewill depend not only on WECS and WWF Nepal, but also on the support provided by the KRBMworking group and other stakeholders.

6

P R O C E E D I N G S O F T H E W O R K I N GS E S S I O N O N K O S H I R I V E R B A S I N M A N A G E M E N T4

Presentation

Conceptual Framework of Koshi River Basin

By: Mr Sanjay Dhungel, Senior Divisional Engineer, WECSMs Neera Shrestha Pradhan, Program Manager-Freshwater, WWF NepalMr Ajay B Mathema, Consultant, KRBM, WWF Nepal

Part 1:

Ms. Neera Shrestha Pradhanhighlighted on the significance of KoshiBasin and necessity for management ofits resources. She presented the resultsof two studies carried out by WWFNepal as a part of KRBM initiative, (a)Water Accounting of Koshi Basin, and(b) Habitat Linkage of Koshi Basin.

Some of the major outcomes of thestudy were (Refer to Annex 3):

J About 50 percent of the annual netinflow water in the Koshi basin isused within the basin, of which only about 14 percent is used for humanactivities including irrigation and drinking water, while remaining is used bynatural resources such as forest, grassland etc.

J Monsoon is dominant feature in defining water availability in the Koshibasin

J Snow melting contribution on Mar (20%), Apr (50%) May (70%) & Jun(40%) - source: Churliya 1983, Sharma 1993, Kattleman 1993

J The currently available water in the basin that can be used is 39,833 millioncu m. out of which:DFAW - Depletion Fraction of Available Water = 50%PFAW - Processed Fraction of Available Water = 14%BU - Beneficial Utilization of Available Water = 33%

7

P R O C E E D I N G S O F T H E W O R K I N GS E S S I O N O N K O S H I R I V E R B A S I N M A N A G E M E N T

J Total water utilized by land use within the Koshi basin is 14% (29,775 Mm3) out of which:cultivation-30%environment-65%Ice, snow and water bodies-5%

J The Koshi basin is of high ecological significance as it provides habitat to several endangeredspecies. The Koshi basin consists of 37 different types of forests. The Koshi basin can providevertical linkage between the habitats. However, the conservation activity will have to focus onimproving fragmentation and poor forest canopy coverage.

J Population density is highest in Saptari and Sunsari thus resulting in the food deficit in thesame area

J The Koshi basin is susceptible to climate change. The change in climate and nutrientenrichment of the Himalayan ecology will result change in habitat and integrity of ecologicalservices like freshwater, biodiversity, forest resources etc.

During her presentation, Ms. Pradhan emphasized on the importance of managing the Koshi basin,which could only be realized with a joint effort among all the partners and stakeholders.

Part 2:

Mr. Sanjay Dhungel continued with the presentation, byexplaining the need of consolidating available capacity byintegrating potential partners into the KRBM Working Group.Mr Dhungel explained that the KRBM stands on the 3 Eprinciple of IRBM, consisting of:

(a) Sustainable Environment(b) Economic Efficiency(c) Social Equity

Mr Dhungel emphasized on partnership building at thismoment for the KRBM, as successful addressing all threeprinciples of IRBM can be ensured by larger integration ofstakeholders from grassroots to national level. He furtherclarified that WECS and WWF Nepal has been working toinitiate this effort and facilitate the formulation of the program. He proposed to the participatingorganizations to join the KRBM initiative for successful implementation of National Water Plan2005.

8

P R O C E E D I N G S O F T H E W O R K I N GS E S S I O N O N K O S H I R I V E R B A S I N M A N A G E M E N T

The presentation also floated discussion regarding the implementation framework for KRBM. Theproposed structure suggested a KRBM Implementation Committee led by WECS, which willprovide strategic guidance and coordination between partners for the implementation of KRBM.Under the KRBM Implementation Committee, a River Basin Office for Koshi (RBO-K) will beestablished, which will support in implementing projects at field level. For the field implementation,a resource users' committee will be formed under District Development Committee (DDC) which willimplement projects in consultation with RBO-K.

J Partner organizationsfrom• governmental,

NGO, donor andInternationalinstitutions.

J Primary responsibility• provide necessary

backstopping andtechnical review

• Development andimplementation ofprojects within theframework of KRBMthrough the localcommunityorganization, NGOs,and users’ group

J Currently led byWECS and supportedby WWF Nepal

J Primary responsibility• Facilitate formulation

of the strategicvisions andprograms for theKRBM program.

J cross-Sectoral localagencies•tgovernment

agancies, civilsociety groups, andcommunityrepresentatives

J Primary responsibility• consolidate inputs of

relevant stakeholdersin formulation ofstrategy

• provide feedback intothe KRBM process.

• promotestakeholders’ viewsincorporated into theKRBM program.

Partnership building for KRBM

WORKING GROUP CORE TEAM MULTISTAKEHOLDERFORUM

WORKINGGROUP

MULTISTAKEHOLDERFORUM

CORE TEAM

9

P R O C E E D I N G S O F T H E W O R K I N GS E S S I O N O N K O S H I R I V E R B A S I N M A N A G E M E N T

Proposed implementatio framework for KRBM

FACILITATION IN PROJECT CONCEPTION ANDIMPLEMENTATION

DistrictLevel

Progecttargets

MO

NIT

OR

ING

AN

D F

EE

DB

AC

K

STRATEGIC GUIDANCE

DISTRICT WATER RESOURCES COMMITTEE

Role - organization of the local level users for implementation on the projects in coordination with theWorking Group members and in guidance of the Core Group

Members - Users Groups, Local Governmental and Non Governmental Organizations, CommunityOrganizations, and Local People

DWRC 1 DWRC 17DWRC 16DWRC ....DWRC 6DWRC 5DWRC 4DWRC 3DWRC 2

PROJECT1

PROJECT2

PROJECT3

PROJECT4

PROJECT5

PROJECT6

PROJECT7

PROJECT......

PROJECTN

KRBM IMPLEMENTATION COMMITTEE

Role - Strategic guidance and coordination betweenpartners for implementation of KRBM program.

Lead By WECS

RIVER BASIN OFFICE - KOSHI

Role - Designing of the projects within the concept ofKRBM program and facilitation for their effective

implementation

Member - Core Group and representative of Projectsfrom Working Group

Progecttargets

Strategic targets

Program targets

IMPLEMETATION

10

P R O C E E D I N G S O F T H E W O R K I N GS E S S I O N O N K O S H I R I V E R B A S I N M A N A G E M E N T

The working session was facilitated by Mr Sanjay Dhungel, Ms. NeeraShrestha Pradhan and Mr. Ajay Mathema with the following guiding principles:

1. Discuss on the work being done or will be done in the basin by partners2. Area of interest for other organizations who are not working at present3. How can it be integrated within the larger vision of KRBM4. Institutional commitment5. Discuss with the entire group on formalization of working group

The major discussion points were:

J Field presence: Local level issues identification is crucial for formulationof the KRBM program. Therefore, the working group has to mobilize theirpartners in the Koshi basin to collect the issues and opinion of localstakeholders.

5Working Session

11

P R O C E E D I N G S O F T H E W O R K I N GS E S S I O N O N K O S H I R I V E R B A S I N M A N A G E M E N T

J Experiences sharing and learning from partners: The participating organizations haveextensive experiences and capacity to address different aspects of KRBM, such as biologicalconservation, climate change, glacier hazards, forest management, irrigation, protected areasetc. Furthermore, it was also learned that these organizations already have long history ofcollaboration. Therefore, it was expected that the working group can be efficiently mobilized.

J Partnership development: The participating institutions already have developed partnershipwith locals and their institutions, which can be mobilized to formulate Multi-stakeholder Forumfor implementation of KRBM program.

J Institutional structure at field level: The governmental organizations, like Department ofHydrology and Metrology (DHM) and Department of Watershed and Soil Conservation (DWSC)has their institutional structure based on river basin concept at the field level, which couldsupport the implementation of KRBM at field level.

J Formalization of working group: The working group will be formalized in leadership of WECSwhich will meet regularly on issue based needs. Other organizations working in the basin werealso invited to join the group.

J Forthcoming activities: The participants were informed about the forthcoming regionalworkshop on KRBM in Dhulikhel covering Kavre and Sindhupalchowk districts and were invitedto join the workshop with prior information. The date and venue will be informed later. Themeeting will discuss on the implementation modality at the field level.

5.1 Decisions of the Working Session

The following decisions were made by the participants who represented their organizations:.

1. The participating institutions and individual experts have expressed their commitment tobe involved in the KRBM working group.

2. WECS will send a formal letter to the representative institutions and individual experts onthe basis of this working session confirming for reconfirmation of their/institutions' activeinvolvement in the KRBM working group.

3. WECS in support of WWF Nepal will regularly carry out meetings and working session ofthe KRBM working group, and also coordinate the formulation of KRBM programs andplans.

4. WWF Nepal will work as a Member Secretary for KRBM working group, which will be ledby WECS.

12

P R O C E E D I N G S O F T H E W O R K I N GS E S S I O N O N K O S H I R I V E R B A S I N M A N A G E M E N T

Concluding Session

Mr Shital Babu Regmee, Joint Secretary of WECS/ GON summarized that thediscussion held were constructive and found opportunities for collaborationwith various organizations working in water, conservation and social sector.Mr. Regmee also emphasized the importance of working together with variouspartners for the success of KRBM at planning and implementation stage.

6

The Working Session was concluded with concluding remarks by theChairman, Mr Ram Krishna Tiwari, Secretary, WECS/GON. Mr Tiwarihighlighted that with the endorsement of National Water Plan in 2005,

13

P R O C E E D I N G S O F T H E W O R K I N GS E S S I O N O N K O S H I R I V E R B A S I N M A N A G E M E N T

Dr. Ghana Shyam Gurung, Conservation Program Director of WWF Nepal, reiterated WWF'scommitment in working together with the partner organizations to make the KRBM program asuccess. He reminded that WWF Nepal has been contributing and working on this concept since2006 together with WECS and expressed the commitment to support the Government of Nepal inthe KRBM initiative. He also explained WWF Nepal's role in hosting WWF's regional projects andthe opportunities it will bring to work with China and India for the regional context of KRBM. Dr.Gurung concluded the workshop by hoping that KRBM will bring all the partners together to work forbetter management of Koshi River basin in Nepal and thanked all the participants for their activeparticipation in the workshop.

opportunities should be explored to work together to address water management in an integratedapproach. He also enlightened the tremendous significance of Koshi basin for Nepal and othercountries downstream; hence, its resources should be utilized in a sustainable manner. In thisregard, the Government of Nepal has taken the lead for the coordination of partners and projectswithin the Koshi basin. As a follow-up, WECS has signed an MOU with WWF Nepal for theintegrated management of water resources in Koshi basin.

14

P R O C E E D I N G S O F T H E W O R K I N GS E S S I O N O N K O S H I R I V E R B A S I N M A N A G E M E N T

Annex 1: Agenda of the workshop

Working Session on Koshi River Basin Management (KRBM)Organized jointly by

Water and Energy Commission Secretariat (WECS)/GON And WWF Nepal

Venue: Hotel Himalaya, KupondoleDate: 9 August 2007, Thursday Time: 9:30 - 13:00

Duration/ Time

09:30 - 10:00

10:00 - 10:20

10:20 - 11:00

11:00 - 11:15

11:15 - 12:15

12:15 - 12:45

12:45 - 12:55

12:55 - 13:00

13:00

Activities

Registration with tea/coffee

Inaugural session

Chairing of the workshop Mr. Ram Krishna Tiwari, Secretary,WECSWelcome and briefing on the objectives of the Workshop by Mr.Suresh Raj Uprety, Joint Secretary, WECS

Joint Presentation on Conceptual framework of KRBM by Mr.Sanjaya Dhungel, Senior Divisional Engineer, WECS and Ms.Neera Shrestha Pradhan, Program Manager - Freshwater, WWFNepal

Discussion on the Presentation (plenary session)

Working session on "Potential role of partners in KRBM" facilitatedby Mr. Sanjaya Dhungel, Ms. Neera Shrestha Pradhan and Mr.Ajay Mathema, consultant WWF Nepal

Opinion of partners on KRBM and their possible area of interest

Remarks by the Chairperson

Conclusion and Vote of Thanks by Dr. Ghana Shyam Gurung,Conservation Program Director, WWF Nepal

Lunch

15

P R O C E E D I N G S O F T H E W O R K I N GS E S S I O N O N K O S H I R I V E R B A S I N M A N A G E M E N T

Annex 2: List of Participants

SN Participants Organizations

1 Mr. Ram Krishna Tiwari (Chair) WECS

2 Mr. Bipin Karki AEPC

3 Ms. Ishana Thapa BCN

4 Dr. KP Sharma DHM

5 Mr. Jhamak Karki DNPWC

6 Mr. Cheram Guragain DSCWM

7 Mr Nabin Mangal Joshi DWIDP

8 Mr. Rajendra Silpakar ICIMOD

9 Mr. Bhawani Prasad Kharel IUCN

10 Mr. SN Poudel JVS

11 Mr. Ishwor Onta Nepal Engineering Council

12 Mr. BK Bania NTNC

13 Mr. Ganga Jung Thapa NTNC

14 Mr. Achyut Luitel Practical Action

15 Mr. Chudamani Joshi SCHEMS

16 Mr. Badri Govinda Rajkarnikar WECS

17 Mr. BL Shrestha WECS

18 Mr. Gautam Rajkarnikar WECS

19 Mr. RM Singh WECS

20 Mr. Shital Babu Regmee WECS

21 MR. SR Upreti WECS

22 Dr. Ghana Shyam Gurung WWF Nepal

23 Mr. Ajay Mathema WWF Nepal

24 Mr. Sandeep C Rai WWF Nepal

25 Ms. Eliza Sthapit WWF Nepal

26 Ms. Moon Shrestha WWF Nepal

27 Ms. Neera S Pradhan WWF Nepal

16

P R O C E E D I N G S O F T H E W O R K I N GS E S S I O N O N K O S H I R I V E R B A S I N M A N A G E M E N T

Annex 3: Outcome of the study

Glimpses of working session

WWF is one of the world's largest and most experiencedindependent conservation organizations, with almost 5million supporters and a global network active in morethan 100 countries.

WWF's mission is to stop the degradation of the planet'snatural environment and to build a future in which humanslive in harmony with nature, by:• conserving the world's biological diversity• ensuring that the use of renewable natural resources is

sustainable• promoting the reduction of pollution and wasteful

consumption

WWF NepalProgram OfficePO Box 7660, Baluwatar,Kathmandu, Nepal.Tel: 4434820, 4434970, 4410942Fax: 977-1-4438458Email: info@wwfnepal.orgWeb: www.wwfnepal.org, www.panda.org

Water and Energy Commission (WEC) was established in 1975with the objective to develop water and energy resources of thecountry in accelerated and sustainable manner. The permanentsecretariat of WEC, Water and Energy Commission Secretariat(WECS) was established in 1981.

The primary responsibility of WECS is to assist Government ofNepal, Ministry of Water Resources and other related agenciesfor formulating plan and policies in the water and energy sector.

The Water Resources Strategy and The National Water Planmandated WECS as the central planning and coordinatingagency in the water resources sector to plan and coordinate thewater resources related activities adhering to the river basinconcept and Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM)principles.

Water and Energy Commission Secretariat (WECS)Government of NepalSingh Durbar, Kathmandu, NepalTel: 4211415, 4211417E-mail: wecs@mos.com.npWeb: www.wec.gov.np

© 1986 P

anda symbol W

WF

- World W

ide Fund F

or Nature (F

ormerly W

orld Wildlife F

und) © "W

WF

" and "living planet" are Registered T

rademarks