７６：ネパールのIWRM動向 (Local Water Parliaments)

スリランカには行った事があるが、インド、パキスタン、バングラディッシュ、ネパールといった南アジアはとんと縁がない。唯一、サウジでは出稼ぎ者の方々とは出会っている。

さて、ネパールのIWRM事情は最近学ぶところとなったが、トップダウン方式に加え、ボトムアップ型のcommunity-based IWRMの導入が進められている。国家水政策におけるサポートがある点が珍しい。ある意味、トップダウンとボトムアップのintegrationである。下記に紹介記事を前述の国際会議からご紹介する。

Water Parliament: Integrated Water Resource Management
(IWRM): in the Hands of People
Mr. Nawaraj Basnet, Dr. Vijaya Shrestha, Dr. Karuna Onta

Nepal is blessed with abundance of surface water resources. Approximately, 6,000 rivers and rivulets flow through Nepal.　Despite its massive water resource potential, only 72 percent of the population has access to piped water facilities.
Likewise, 42 percent of the cultivated area 92,642,000 ha has irrigation of some sort. Only 17 percent of the cultivated　area has irrigation facility available throughout the year. The country has 43,000 MW economically viable hydro-power
potential. Major problems faced in Nepal are lack of effective dialogue and interaction between the national water　institutions, civic group entities,　political parties and community institutions involved in water resources development at　various levels. Secondly and mostimportantly, the stakeholders are not involved during the decision-making processes at　various levels, although historically community initiatives and institutions played a major role in water resource development.

The Government of Nepal has developed National Water Plan and National Water Resources Strategy to ensure better　management of water resources by adopting the principles of IWRM. Guided by the Country National Water Plan and　Water Resource Strategy, Jalsrot Vikas Sanstha (JVS) a host organization of Nepal Water　Partnership, in 2007 initiated a　process to introduce IWRM at the community level in Sindhupalchowk district at Melamchi river basin through Local Water　Parliaments (LWP). People learnt about the water use rights and multiple uses of　water at the individual level and at the　community level they come together and develop their water resource plan.　The reach and scope of LWP has increased beyond their community helping them leverage resources from other organization.　They have recognized their important role in taking control and management of their water resources. In order to　make IWRM truly meaningful and effective LWP should be　linked with Area Water Partnership.

LWPの詳細は中々得られないが今後フォローしようと思う。世界各国のIWRM実践の知恵比べといったところか。