Kathmandu : International Water Management Institute (IWMI) in association with various stakeholders has developed hydrological models to assess temporal and spatial water balances and availability in the Mahakali, Karnali and Mohana basins.
Organizing a press conference on Thursday, IWMI informed that models have been used to assess water availability in the National Irrigation Master Plan developed by the Department of Water Resources and Irrigation and Government of Nepal. “These models will be accessible through the IWMI water data portal and can used for basin-wide and project-specific planning (http://waterdata.iwmi.org/),” reads the statement issued by IWMI.
There is an urgent need to address water resources development and management plans in western Nepal, a region that has much potential for economic development but is highly vulnerable to climate change impacts. It is also rich in natural resources, with many biodiversity hotspots and much scope for tourism.
“USAID’s Digo Jal Bikaas Activity sought to promote sustainable water resource development in western Nepal. The activity conducted studies on water accounting in terms of the available renewable water resources in time and space, present water demands, and water-related risks,” the statement reads.
Furthermore, the activity supported the establishment of a database to house the information generated as well as the natural characteristics, accompanying ecosystem services, and all water-related physical infrastructure and modifications of the study area.
This helped fill key knowledge and information gaps, and provide datasets that will be useable for a diverse array of analyses and planning purposes in the future The activity was implemented by International Water Management Institute (IWMI), along with Duke University, Kathmandu University, and the Nepal Water Conservation Foundation between 2016-2019 and covered three river basins in the Karnali and Sudurpaschim provinces of Nepal – the Karnali, Mohana, and the Mahakali.
