SURKHET – Two separate research reports prepared broadly by incorporating various aspects to formulate necessary laws for the management of corridor and conservation of Karnali River were handed over to the Karnali Province on Friday.
The research reports prepared by Nepal River Conservation Trust with the assistance of Paani Project were handed over to Province Assembly Speaker Raj Bahadur Shahi amidst a program organized in Surkhet. Both the reports were also handed over to other government agencies and local government of the province.
Receiving the reports, Province Assembly Speaker Shahi praised the broader research and said that the reports will be helpful in the coming days while formulating the policy. “Now, we have to prepare the draft for sustainable development taking into account the next generation,” he said, adding, “I will try my best to urge the concerned authority to incorporate the issues suggested by the reports while formulating the policy.”
Underlining the need for launching a massive awareness campaign at the grassroots level for the conservation of river, he said that the government, various agencies and political parties should come to one place for the same.
Saying that it is the responsibility of federal government to formulate policy and laws for the management and conservation of big rivers, he expressed his commitment that the province government is ready to help and coordinate with the federal government for the same.
Speaking at the program, Nepal River Conservation Trust Chairman Megh Ale said that everyone should change their social attitude towards the rivers. “The conservation of river is very importance because it is the blood vessel of earth and connected with the human civilization,” he said.
Though there are some laws pertaining to the embankment, the concerned authority has not been able to formulate broader law and policy by including issues like biodiversity of river, its economic and cultural importance. That’s why the rivers are facing other problems apart from pollution.
Experts said that the significance of river will be at stake if the concerned authority turns its blind eye to formulate the law to manage the river on time. Participants said that the broader research was conducted with the help of Paani Project keeping in mind the same thing.
At the program, Dr Chiranjivi Bhattarai, working committee member of Nepal River Conservation Trust, floated some ideas for a sustainable development of Karnali River by reflecting the relationship among aquatic animals, river, society and the environment. “Some of the ideas for the sustainable development are conservation of biodiversity, construction of sustainable and environment-friendly roads, development of strategic hydropower, environment and promoting tourism among others,” he said.
Presenting the conclusion of the research, Bhattarai said that conservation of rivers and environment are necessary for the future, stressing on the need to formulate laws to protect them.
He said it is necessary to consider the research and development while formulating the laws.
Informing about the Paani Project, Narayan Belbase of Paani Project said that the Paani Project is being implemented in Mahakali, Karnali and wet lands in 24 districts under the Rapti Basin.
He said that special attention has been paid for conserving the rivers. Saying that the Paani Project has prepared profile and health report of wet land area of 12 places so far, he informed the participants that the Paani Project is currently working at 12 wet land areas. He said that the Paani Project has provided financial assistance to 21 local organizations to carry out the activities and six organizations to conduct the research. Belbase said that the Paani Project has given importance to gender equality and social inclusion.
Presenting the concept to manage the corridor of Karnali River, Mausam Khanal, Executive Director at the Nepal River Trust, said that broader research was carried out to find out the social, environmental and other aspects of the river.
He said his main objective is to prepare the report by incorporating the problems and issues of Karnali River and draw the attention of concerned stakeholders.
Khanal said that the locals had informed him that the number of fish and species had decreased at the bottom level of Karnali River while carrying out the research. “There was lack of awareness at the local level regarding the management of river,” he said. “Now, we have to build hydropower project in a strategic way,” he added.
A team had travelled the length of the Karnali River in 44 days from September to October in 2018. The team comprising a scientist, three assistants for researcher, one environment journalist and a photographer had travelled 1080-km. The main objective of that journey was to study the social, cultural and environmental aspects of Karnali River.
Participants expected that this study will help the concerned agency to formulate the policy. During the program, they said that the time has come to think seriously for the sustainable development of Karnali River. The team had studied the quality of water, biodiversity of river and aquatic animals, among other issues.
The reports have already been handed over to the local government and there is a plan to submit that reports to the federal government next week. “We have prepared the draft about how to manage the Karnali River in a sustainable way and what kind of laws are needed to conserve the river in Nepal,” Khanal said, adding, “It is up to the government to take final decision regarding the formulation of laws and Act.”
Karnali is the longest river of Nepal. It is not only a natural heritage but also one big environmental property of Nepal. If we want to hand over the river-in its pristine form, to the next generation, than it is necessary to conserve it now. Karnali River is very rich in terms of ecosystem, culture and beauty.
