water resources management in bhutan
DESCRIPTION
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 - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
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Water Resources Management in Bhutan
G.Karma Chhopel
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India
China
Nepal
Bangladesh
Bhutan
Area
38,394km2
Population
634,982 (2005)
Introduction
Altitude range from 100m–above 7500m above msl
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State of Environment
High-level political commitment60% forest cover for all timesPristine Environment
72.5% forest cover9% biological corridor~50% protected area
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High bio-diversity concentration
Conservation jewel of the Eastern Himalayas
Flora and fauna 7500 vascular plants (82 are endemic)>300 medicinal plants, 50 species rhododendron,>40 species of orchids770 sps of Birds (14 IUCN)167 sps mammals (26 IUCN)
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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
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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
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Amochhu
Wangchhu
Punatsangchhu
Manas
Major River Systems
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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
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Characteristic National Features
Value/Description
Long-term mean annual flow for entire country
2,325 m3/s=73,000 million m3/year
Per capita mean annual flow availability
109,000 m3
Per capita minimum flow availability
20,000 m3
Water Resources in Bhutan
98% urban and 88% rural population has access to safe drinking water
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Middle Path: National Environment Strategy
Agriculture Intensification
Hydropower Industrialization
3 avenues to sustainable development
All the above are major users of water
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Water Act : Guiding Elements
– 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
7th Session of the Parliament, 31 May 2011
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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
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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
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Challenges and consequences• Increasing demand from increasing
populations
• Unsustainable development of hydropower
• Extinction of plant and animal species
• GLOF is another
serious threat
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Adaptation measures
Green Roof
• 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
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Adaptation measures (contd..)
• Adopt drought resistant varieties of crops & livestock
• Place more areas under parks and protected areas
• Protect watersheds and wetlands
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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
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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
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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
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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
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