Indrawati Sub Basin Project launched

KATHMANDU, March 29: Water and Energy Commission Secretariat (WECS) and WWF Nepal launched the Indrawati Sub Basin Project on the occasion of World Water Day Monday. The project aims at reducing the vulnerability of people, biodiversity and economic investments in the face of climate change and growing anthropogenic activities.



The three-year project is funded by the Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland and WWF-Finland. The project aims at working together with partners and stakeholders concerned to safeguard water resources, maintain eco-system integrity and improve livelihoods of people as well as build institutions in line with the National Water Plan 2005, the WECS said in a statement. [break]



Launching the project, Minister for Energy Dr Prakash Sharan Mahat, said, "The Government of Nepal appreciates the support of Finnish Government and WWF translating the National Water Plan 2005 into action."



Indrawati sub basin, one of the seven sub basins of Koshi River Basin, is located in the mid-hill of the central region of Nepal, which originates from the higher snowy range of the Himalayas and joins downstream with Sun Koshi. This sub basin comprises Sindhupalchowk, Kathmandu and Kavre districts.



Secretary of WECS Kishore Thapa said, "Through the project implementation, stakeholders will be more aware of Integrated River Basin Management concept, rights of access to water and other natural resources and existing regulatory frameworks."



Jon Miceler, Managing Director of Eastern Himalayas, said, "Integrated Water Resources Management is a strong tool for freshwater adaptation to address the conservation and wise use of water resources in the face of climate change."



Dr Ravi Sharma Aryal, Joint Secretary at WECS, said, "The project intends to achieve the balance between socio-economic development and environmental conservation, while ensuring equitable benefits to locals and participation of stakeholders concerned."



The length of the main course of the Indrawati River is about 59 km, covering 124,000 ha of land. Some of the major tributaries of the Indrawati river basin are Larke khola, Yangri khola, Melamchi khola, Jhyangri khola, Chaa khola, Handi khola and Mahadev khola. The rivers upstream originate from Langtang National Park and its buffer zone.

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