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Water Resources Management in Bhutan

Water Resources Management in Bhutan. G.Karma Chhopel. Introduction. Area 38,394 km 2 Population 634,982 (2005). Altitude range from 100m–above 7500m above msl. State of Environment. High-level political commitment 60% forest cover for all times Pristine Environment

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Water Resources Management in Bhutan

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  1. Water Resources Management in Bhutan G.Karma Chhopel

  2. Introduction Area 38,394km2 Population 634,982 (2005) • Altitude range from 100m–above 7500m above msl

  3. State of Environment • High-level political commitment • 60% forest cover for all times • Pristine Environment • 72.5% forest cover • 9% biological corridor • ~50% protected area

  4. Conservation jewel of the Eastern Himalayas • Flora and fauna • 7500 vascular plants (82 are endemic) • >300 medicinal plants, • 50 species rhododendron, • >40 species of orchids • 770 sps of Birds (14 IUCN) • 167 sps mammals (26 IUCN) High bio-diversity concentration

  5. 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

  6. 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

  7. Major River Systems Wangchhu Punatsangchhu Amochhu Manas

  8. 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

  9. Water Resources in Bhutan 98% urban and 88% rural population has access to safe drinking water

  10. Middle Path: National Environment Strategy 3 avenues to sustainable development • Agriculture Intensification • Hydropower • Industrialization All the above are major users of water

  11. Water Act : Guiding Elements 7th Session of the Parliament, 31 May 2011 • 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

  12. 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

  13. 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

  14. Challenges and consequences • Increasing demand from increasing populations • Unsustainable development of hydropower • Extinction of plant and animal species • GLOF is another serious threat

  15. Adaptation measures • 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 Green Roof

  16. Adaptation measures (contd..) • Adopt drought resistant varieties of crops & livestock • Place more areas under parks and protected areas • Protect watersheds and wetlands

  17. 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

  18. 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

  19. 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

  20. 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

  21. བཀྲིེན་ཆེ་ལགས།

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