River basin offices in offing

KATHMANDU, Nov 23: The government has decided to set up three river basin offices for Narayani, Koshi and Karnali river basins and a separate transboundary cell, which will act as a permanent secretariat to give policy recommendations on all existing bilateral mechanisms on water resources. [break]



A meeting of the Water and Energy Commission Secretariat (WECS) chaired by the Minister of Energy took the decision to this effect on Monday. "The cell will give input to the government to strengthen our negotiation at all bilateral mechanisms," said Minister for Energy Dr Prakash Sharan Mahat. He added, "The three basin offices will take forward the existing research undertaken at major river basins."



The three river basin offices will henceforth work in coordination with the Department of Hydrology and Meteorology. "The offices will be set up under the government´s water management strategy," Kishor Thapa, WECS secretary, said. He said the Karnali river basin office will also look after Mahakali as much area of the Mahakali basin falls in India.



Thapa said the cell will "support" and furnish added information, analysis and recommendations, which will help in making Nepal´s position clear at bilateral negotiations. WECS said the offices and the cell will come into operation within three months.



Meanwhile, WECS forwarded major recommendations on national energy strategy to the government. It has recommended re-classification of energy sources, reduction of dependency on biomass and opting for hydro-electricity, clean energy like wind and solar energies, especially in the rural areas.



akanshya@myrepublica.com

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