Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Climate Change Adaptation, Water Infrastructure Development, and Responsive Governance in the Himalayas: The Case Study of Nepal’s Koshi River Basin

  • Chapter
  • First Online:
Increasing Resilience to Climate Variability and Change

Part of the book series: Water Resources Development and Management ((WRDM))

  • 1125 Accesses

Abstract

It is predicted that by the 2050s, the Koshi (Kosi) River basin, the largest Himalayan basin in Nepal, will be experiencing frequent and devastating flooding events and lower lean season flows due to climate change. This will threaten the livelihoods of millions of inhabitants. Development of water infrastructure has the potential to make water availability more consistent and secure. It could generate as much as 10,086 MW of economically feasible energy and irrigate approximately 500,000 ha of agricultural land. We argue that the challenges of water infrastructure development under climatic uncertainty can be overcome through systematic assessment of climatic and nonclimatic risks and responsive governance mechanisms that employ newer forms of stakeholder engagement and accountability, networks, partnerships and enhanced collaboration across sectors.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 39.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 54.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD 54.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Notes

  1. 1.

    Greenhouse gas concentration trajectories adopted by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change for its Fifth Assessment Report (Van Vuuren et al. 2010).

References

  • Andermann C, Crave A, Gloaguen R, Davy P, Bonnet S (2012) Connecting source and transport: suspended sediments in the Nepal Himalayas. Earth Planet Sci Lett 351–352:158–170

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Baral HS (2013) An assessment of the impact of Koshi floods to birds and mammals. Nepalese J Biosci 2. doi:10.3126/njbs.v2i0.7482

    Google Scholar 

  • Bates BC, Kundzewicz ZW, Wu S, Palutikof JP (eds) (2008) Climate change and water. Technical paper. IPCC Secretariat, Geneva

    Google Scholar 

  • Bharati L, Gurung P, Jayakody P (2012) Hydrologic characterization of the Koshi Basin and the impact of climate change. Hydro Nepal: J Water Energy Environ 11(1):18–22

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bharati L, Gurung P, Jayakody P, Smakhtin V, Bhattarai U (2014) The impact of climate change on water resources availability and development in the Koshi Basin, Nepal. Mt Res Dev 34:118–130

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Birnie P, Boyle A, Redgwell C (2009) International law and the environment, 3rd edn. Oxford University Press, Oxford

    Google Scholar 

  • Bonzanigo L, Brown C, Harou J, Hurford A, Karki P, Newmann J, Ray P (2015) South Asia investment decision making in hydropower: decision tree case study of the Upper Arun Hydropower Project and Koshi Basin Hydropower Development in Nepal. Report No.: AUS 11077. GEEDR South Asia, The World Bank, New York

    Google Scholar 

  • Crow B, Singh N (2009) The management of international rivers as demands grow and supplies tighten: India, China, Nepal, Pakistan, Bangladesh. India Rev 8(3):306–339. doi:10.1080/14736480903116826

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chen NSh, Hu GSh, Deng W, Khanal N, Zhu YH, Han D (2013) On the water hazards in the trans-boundary Koshi basin. Nat Hazards Earth Syst Sci 13:795–808

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chettri N, Uddin K, Chaudhary S, Sharma E (2013) Linking spatio-temporal land cover change to biodiversity conservation in the Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve, Nepal. Diversity 5:335–351

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chinnasamy P, Bharati L, Bhattarai U, Khadka A, Dahal V, Wahid S (2015) Impact of planned water resource development on current and future water demand of the Koshi river basin, Nepal. Water Int 40(7):1004–1020

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dhungel D (2009) Historical eye view. In: Dhungel D, Pun S (eds) Nepal-India water resources relationship: challenges. Springer, Dordrecht, pp 11–68

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Dixit A, Basnet S (2005) Recognising entitlements and sharing benefits: emerging trends in Nepal’s hydropower terrain. IUCN, Gland, Switzerland

    Google Scholar 

  • Dixit A, Upadhya M, Dixit K, Pokhrel A, Rai DR (2009) Living with water stress in the hills of the Koshi Basin, Nepal. International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development, Kathmandu, Nepal

    Google Scholar 

  • Government of Nepal–Ministry of Environment (GoN-MoE) (2010) National Adaptation Programme of Action (NAPA) to climate change, Nepal. GoN–MoE, Kathmandu

    Google Scholar 

  • Government of Nepal, Water and Energy Commission Secretariat (GoN-WECS) (1999) Basin wise water resources and water utilization study of the Koshi River basin. GoN–WECS, Kathmandu

    Google Scholar 

  • Government of Nepal, Water and Energy Commission Secretariat (GoN-WECS) (2002) Water resource strategy, Nepal. GoN–WECS, Kathmandu

    Google Scholar 

  • Government of Nepal, Water and Energy Commission Secretariat (GoN-WECS) (2005) National water plan, Nepal. GoN–WECS, Kathmandu

    Google Scholar 

  • Government of Nepal, Water and Energy Commission Secretariat (GoN-WECS) (2010) Koshi River basin management strategic plan (2011–2021). GoN–WECS, Kathmandu

    Google Scholar 

  • Gosain AK, Rao S, Mani A (2011) Hydrological modelling: a case study of the Koshi Himalayan basin using SWAT. Soil hydrology, land use and agriculture. CAB International, Wallingford, UK

    Google Scholar 

  • Groundwater Resources Development Board (GWRDB) (2016) Hydrogeological studies. http://www.gwrdb.gov.np/hydrogeological_studies.php. Accessed 19 Feb 2016

  • Gyawali D (2008) Epilogue (Re-imagining Nepal’s water: institutional blind spots, developmental blind alleys and the lessons of the century past). In: Dhungel D, Pun S (eds) Nepal-India water resources relationship: challenges. Springer, Dordrecht

    Google Scholar 

  • International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD) (2015) Water availability and agricultural adaptation options of the Koshi Basin under global environmental change. ICIMOD, Kathmandu

    Google Scholar 

  • Immerzeel WW, van Beek LPH, Bierkens MFP (2010) Climate change will affect the Asian water towers. Science 328:1382–1385

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Immerzeel WW, van Beek LPH, Konz M, Shrestha AB, Bierkens MFP (2011) Hydrological response to climate change in a glacierized catchment in the Himalayas. Clim Change 110:721–736

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Independent Power Producers’ Association Nepal/Confederation of Indian Industry (IPPAN/CII) (2006) Research on Nepal–India Cooperation on Hydropower (NICOH). IPPAN/CII, New Delhi

    Google Scholar 

  • Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) (1985) Master plan study on the Kosi River water resources development: final report. Japan International Cooperation Agency, Tokyo

    Google Scholar 

  • Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) (2014) Nationwide master plan study on storage-type hydroelectric power development in Nepal: final report. Japan International Cooperation Agency, Tokyo

    Google Scholar 

  • Jalsrot Vikas Sanstha (JVS) (2012) Consultative workshop report: Ganges Strategic basin assessment, Nepal. JVS, Kathmandu

    Google Scholar 

  • Kattelmann R (1991) Hydrologic regime of the Sapt Kosi basin, Nepal. In: Hydrology for the water management of large river basins. Proceedings of the Vienna symposium, Vienna, August 1991

    Google Scholar 

  • Khanal NR, Hu J-M, Mool P (2015) Glacial lake outburst flood risk in the Poiqu/Bhote Koshi/Sun Koshi River basin in the Central Himalayas. Mt Res Dev 35(4):351–364

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mishra DK (2008) Bihar floods: the inevitable has happened. Econ Polit Wkly, 6 Sept 2008

    Google Scholar 

  • Ministry of Environment (MoE) (2010) National adaptation programme of action (NAPA) thematic working group summary report. Ministry of Environment, Kathmandu, Nepal

    Google Scholar 

  • Molden D, Vaidya R, Shrestha A, Rasul G, Shrestha M (2014) Water infrastructure for the Hindu Kush Himalayas. Int J Water Resour Dev 30:60–77

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • National Electricity Authority (NEA) (2014) A year in review-fiscal year-2013/2014. NEA, Kathmandu

    Google Scholar 

  • Rahaman MM (2012) Hydropower ambitions of South Asian nations and China: Ganges and Brahmaputra Rivers basins. Int J Sust Soc 4(1/2):131–157

    Google Scholar 

  • Rajbhandari R, Shrestha AB, Nepal S, Wahid S (2016) Projection of future climate over the Koshi River basin based on CMIP5 GCMs. Atmos Clim Sci 6(02):190

    Google Scholar 

  • Ramsar (2016) Directory of Asian Wetlands. www.ramsar.wetlands.org. Accessed 10 May 2016

  • Ries JB (1995) Does soil erosion in the high mountain region of the eastern Nepalese Himalayas affect the plains? Phys Chem Earth 20:51–269

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sharma B, Rasul G, Chettri N (2015) The economic value of wetland ecosystem services: evidence from the Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve, Nepal. Ecosyst Serv 12:84–93

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Shrestha RM, Ahlers R, Bakker M, Gupta J (2010) Institutional dysfunction and challenges in flood control: a case study of the Kosi flood 2008. Econ Polit Wkly XLV(2):45–53

    Google Scholar 

  • Speed R, Li Y, Le Quesne T, Pegram G, Zhiwei Z (2013) Basin water allocation planning. Principles, procedures and approaches for basin allocation planning. UNESCO, Paris

    Google Scholar 

  • Surie M, Prasai S (2015) Strengthening transparency and access to information on transboundary rivers in South Asia. The Asia Foundation, New Delhi

    Google Scholar 

  • SWECO (2011) Draft case study reports on benefit sharing and hydropower. Reports prepared for the World Bank, SWECO, Stockholm

    Google Scholar 

  • Tropp H (2005) Developing water governance capacities. Feature article. UNDP Water Governance Facility/SIWI, Stockholm

    Google Scholar 

  • Tropp H (2007) Water governance: trends and needs for new capacity development. Water Policy 9(2):19–30

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Uddin K, Murthy MSR, Wahid SM, Matin MA (2016) Estimation of soil erosion dynamics in the Koshi basin using GIS and remote sensing to assess priority areas for conservation. PLoS ONE 11(3)

    Google Scholar 

  • United Nations (UN) (2015) Responsive and accountable public governance. https://publicadministration.un.org/en/Research/World-Public-Sector-Reports. Accessed 10 May 2016

  • United Nations Economic Commission for Europe-International Network of Basin Organizations (UNECE–INBO) (2015) Water and climate change adaptation in transboundary basins: lessons learned and good practices. United Nations, Geneva and INBO, Paris

    Google Scholar 

  • United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) (2008) Freshwater under threat South Asia: vulnerability assessment of freshwater resources to environmental change. http://www.unep.org/pdf/southasia_report.pdf. Accessed 25 Jan 2016

  • Van Vuuren DP, Edmonds J, Thomson A, Riahi K, Kainuma M, Matsui T, Hurtt GC, Lamarque J-F, Meinshausen M, Smith S, Granier C, Rose SK, Hibbard KA (2010) The representative concentration pathways: an overview. Clim Change 109(1–2):5–31

    Google Scholar 

  • Wang C (2012) A guide for local benefit sharing in hydropower projects. Social development working papers no. 128. The World Bank Social Development, Washington, DC

    Google Scholar 

  • World Bank (2015) Project appraisal document on a proposed credit to Nepal, Power sector reform and sustainable hydropower development project, September 2015. World Bank, Washington, DC

    Google Scholar 

  • World Wildlife Fund (WWF) (2010) From policy to practice, Koshi River Basin Management. WWK Nepal, Kathmandu

    Google Scholar 

  • Yatagai A, Kamiguchi K, Arakawa O, Hamada A, Yasutomi N, Kitoh A (2012) Constructing a long-term daily gridded precipitation dataset for Asia based on a dense network of rain gauge. Bull Am Meteorol Soc, Sept 2012

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

This chapter is partially based on the results of case study completed under the Koshi Basin Initiative at the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD) supported by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT), Government of Australia through Sustainable development investment portfolio for South Asia (SDIP) and core funds of ICIMOD contributed by the governments of Afghanistan, Australia, Austria, Bangladesh, Bhutan, China, India, Myanmar, Nepal, Norway, Pakistan, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom.

All views and interpretations expressed in this paper are those of the author(s). They are not attributable to ICIMOD or the Australian Government and do not imply the expression of any opinion concerning the legal status of any country, territory, city, or area of its authorities, or concerning the delimitation of its boundaries.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD), Kathmandu, Nepal

    Shahriar M. Wahid, Aditi Mukherji & Arun Shrestha

Authors
  1. Shahriar M. Wahid
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Aditi Mukherji
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Arun Shrestha
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Shahriar M. Wahid .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy, National University of Singapore Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy, Singapore, Singapore

    Cecilia Tortajada

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2016 Springer Science+Business Media Singapore

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Wahid, S.M., Mukherji, A., Shrestha, A. (2016). Climate Change Adaptation, Water Infrastructure Development, and Responsive Governance in the Himalayas: The Case Study of Nepal’s Koshi River Basin. In: Tortajada, C. (eds) Increasing Resilience to Climate Variability and Change. Water Resources Development and Management. Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-10-1914-2_4

Download citation

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation