Water Resources Management in Bhutan
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Transcript of Water Resources Management in Bhutan
Water Resources Management in Bhutan
G.Karma Chhopel
India
China
Nepal
Bangladesh
Bhutan
Area
38,394km2
Population
634,982 (2005)
Introduction
Altitude range from 100m–above 7500m above msl
State of Environment
High-level political commitment60% forest cover for all timesPristine Environment
72.5% forest cover9% biological corridor~50% protected area
High bio-diversity concentration
Conservation jewel of the Eastern Himalayas
Flora and fauna 7500 vascular plants (82 are endemic)>300 medicinal plants, 50 species rhododendron,>40 species of orchids770 sps of Birds (14 IUCN)167 sps mammals (26 IUCN)
Biodiveristy - invertebrates
Rich biodiversity
Historical reasons; N-Thailand, N-Myanmar, Yunan, Assam, etc.
Rhyacophila 34 sps, 32 in Nepal
Glossosomatidae 16 sps, 14 in Nepal
Epiophlebia laidlawi
Hydraena karmai
Water Resources• Bhutan is endowed with rich perennial water
resources due to its head water source fed with permanent glaciers & associated glacier lakes, vast forest coverage & recurrence monsoon
• Four major river basins are: • Amochhu, Wangchhu, Punatsangchhu &
Manas
• Major rivers flows North to South culminating into Indian plains
• 3 transboundary rivers: Amochhu, Kurichhu & Gamri
Amochhu
Wangchhu
Punatsangchhu
Manas
Major River Systems
Water Resources • Most promising hydropower potential sites are
located deep steep river reach in narrow valleys (30,000 MW)
• All most all the hydropower projects are run-of-the-schemes except few storage schemes in the foot hills
• Natural rivers/streams water quality is reported as excellent conditions expect at localized urban areas
• Deep groundwater is virtually unused in Bhutan; hydro-geological science is still at infancy
Characteristic National Features
Value/Description
Long-term mean annual flow for entire country
2,325 m3/s=73,000 million m3/year
Per capita mean annual flow availability
109,000 m3
Per capita minimum flow availability
20,000 m3
Water Resources in Bhutan
98% urban and 88% rural population has access to safe drinking water
Middle Path: National Environment Strategy
Agriculture Intensification
Hydropower Industrialization
3 avenues to sustainable development
All the above are major users of water
Water Act : Guiding Elements
– Ensure conservation & protection & sustainable management of Water Resources
– Grant equity in water allocation and use
– Respect traditional water rights if based on equity and social justice
– Ensure licensing of water for commercial uses
– Be supported by secondary legislations
– Uphold international legal norms and conventions
7th Session of the Parliament, 31 May 2011
Water Act 20117th Session of the Parliament, 31 May 2011
• Coordinate national IWRM
• Conduct inventory on water resources
• River Basin Management Plan (River basin committees and WUAs)
• Set WQ standards
• Set minimum environmental flow
Challenges and consequences
• Unpredictable seasonality
• Accelerated melting of glaciers
• Extreme Climate: Higher incidence of flooding and dry spells
• Reduction in over all river flows & water shortages
• Drying of water sources & rivers
Challenges and consequences• Increasing demand from increasing
populations
• Unsustainable development of hydropower
• Extinction of plant and animal species
• GLOF is another
serious threat
Adaptation measures
Green Roof
• Investing in alternative sources of energy (solar, wind, biogas)
• Establish flood & weather forecasting and advance warning systems
• Build check-dams & water reservoirs using natural contours of riverbeds
• Promote rainwater harvesting & WSUD
Adaptation measures (contd..)
• Adopt drought resistant varieties of crops & livestock
• Place more areas under parks and protected areas
• Protect watersheds and wetlands
Regional & National initiatives• Bhutan Climate Summit for the Eastern
Himalayas Southern watershed• Establish strong upstream-downstream
economic linkages (cost-benefit sharing)• Establish an effective networking system for
information, data and technology– Focal institutes for glaciology, hydrology, energy, food
security etc. – Conduct inventory of water resources
Regional & National initiative• Conservation of wetlands• Improvement of irrigation systems• Promoting rational use of irrigation water• Control the spread of impervious ground cover
that impedes the recharging of ground water resources
International support• Funds and technology for mitigation and
adaptation measures
• Funds to develop sectoral rules and regulations
• Technology/ knowledge transfer from institutions such as MRC
• Support research & monitoring programmes
Conclusion• Events in HKH have global
consequences (social, economy, ecology)
• Strong evidence of climate change
• Need to act now rather
than later
• Investing for the world
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