'Ensure rivers' e-flow while producing hydropower'

Kathmandu, Jan 11: At a time when the government has prioritized hydropower production as one of the measures to intensify economic development in the country, the conservationists and experts on hydro resources have shown concern over the violation of rivers' rights.

Minimum ecological flow (e-flow) of the rivers and rivulets must be ensured while constructing hydropower projects, they argued, saying that it would be detrimental to nature, especially aquatic ecosystem if it was not paid heed. They expressed worry why the government and concerned agencies producing hydropower were ignoring this aspect.

The river flow means its certain amount, timing and quality which functions as its ecosystem, thereby serving the human and aquatic life. The river flow is also linked to culture and spiritual aspects in south Asia. But, the growing trend of use of water with diversion of river and streams has posed challenges to this aspect. 

Although human activities are carried out based on river water for their development, the essential nature of river is breached, resulting into crises. The commercial side of river use is given attention to the stretch that would cost a lot to humanity, the speakers warned. 

During a programme organized recently by the International Water Management Institute (IWMI) and the Department of Hydro Resources and Irrigation in the federal capital, Associate Professor at Kathmandu University, Ram Devi Tachamo Sah, informed that ecological flow of rivers must be kept intact in order to protect rivers' health. For it to happen, both the people and other stakeholders must be made aware, she stressed.

Lecturer at Department of Environment at Tribhuvan University, Dip Narayan Saha, presented a working paper at the programme and revealed the fact that some 80 percent hydropower project had flouted the rule of allowing at least 10 percent flow to river while producing hydropower. "We recently conducted a study of 50 hydropower projects, which showed such worrying data. It is sheer violation of ecological flow," he shared. 

As a result, most of the rivers used for hydropower development lost significant flow during winter and dry seasons.

The experts urged all three-tiers of government to be serious on curbing such flagrant exploitation of rivers.

The Hydropower Development Policy brought 23 years back in Nepal had provisioned the guarantee of at least 10 percent river flow while constructing electricity project based on river, which, however, is flatly disobeyed by the producers.  

It has not only jeopardized aquatic life but also deprived farmers of irrigation facility in vicinity of late.

At the programme, former Minister for Hydro Resources, Deepak Gwayali, suggested linking the river-based projects to locals. Localization of such project would help ensure locals' concern and participation in the environmental impact assessment for the project, he added.

IWMI's another study on the related laws, directives and monitoring, showed that EIA of hydropower project was not enforced at all. 

Other speakers suggested that the bill on hydro resource being considered at parliament could address e-flow of rivers. (RSS)