Inter-basin transfer of Nepal's water resources for sustainable benefits
Adhikari, B.; Verhoeven, R.; Troch, P. (2009). Inter-basin transfer of Nepal's water resources for sustainable benefits, in: Feyen, J. et al. (Ed.) Proceedings of The International Urban Water Conference, Heverlee, Belgium, 15-19 September, 2008: Water and Urban Development Paradigms Towards an Integration of Engineering, Design and Management Approaches. pp. 647-653 In: Feyen, J. et al. (Ed.) (2009). Proceedings of The International Urban Water Conference, Heverlee, Belgium, 15-19 September, 2008: Water and Urban Development Paradigms Towards an Integration of Engineering, Design and Management Approaches. Taylor & Francis: London. ISBN 978-0-415-48334-6, more |
| Author keywords | East-west transfer; Groundwater aquifer; high dams; local reservoirs |
| Abstract | This article suggests that the east-west transfer of water from larger rivers in Nepal by tunnelling through the last hill in three places is an appropriate alternative to high dams. Dams are unsuitable for a highly earthquake prone area, such as Nepal, and they cannot cope with ever increasing sediment loads of the Himalayan Rivers. Nepal must maximize irrigation in its Terai using the Himalayan river water for maintaining food security in the country. India is moving forward towards large-scale plans to transfer water from the eastern to western rivers, for which Nepal's foot hill can serve as the best place to transfer solely from the gravity. This study suggests storing water in local reservoirs and groundwater aquifer in the Ganges plain, which would secure dry season irrigation, as well as increase Ganges River flows to benefit Bangladesh. The solution has no fixed life span like dams, and hence deserves potentials to serve for unlimited time in a sustainable manner. |
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