New Water Resources Bill redraws federal powers, tightens river and dam oversight
Summary
Nepal's proposed Water Resources Bill aims to modernize water governance by defining federal, provincial, and local government roles, enhancing environmental protections, and introducing dam safety regulations.
Key Points
- The new Water Resources Bill seeks to align Nepal's water resource management with its federal system, redefining jurisdictional powers across government tiers.
- It mandates stricter environmental flow requirements for river projects, increasing minimum water release below dams to at least 15 percent of river flow.
- The bill establishes a classification system and safety protocols for dams, including independent safety assessments every five years.
- Critics argue the bill centralizes power by excluding provincial and local governments from key decision-making bodies, limiting federalism's spirit.
