Historical Eye View

Water is the most important natural resource that Nepal possesses, although most of it is yet to be exploited. She has more than 6,000 rivers with a combined run-off of about 200 billion cubic metres (bcm) (WECS 2002; also, see Annex 1). If properly harnessed, this resource could make substantial contributions to the socio-economic development not only of the people of Nepal but also of millions of people living in the countries of south Asia, especially Bangladesh and India. The Ganges is the natural drainage of the waters flowing from Nepal. The overall contribution of the rivers flowing from Nepal to this mighty river is 46 per cent of its flow. During the lean season it is as high as 71 per cent (Bandhopadhyaya 1995 and IIDS 2000). The relationship in water resources between the two countries, i.e. Nepal and India, exists at both people-to-people and official levels. The people-to-people relationship has existed since time immemorial, whereas the official-level relationship, based on available records, dates back by over 100 years.