Water laws in Nepal - WaterAid

PrefaceWater is life, for people and for the planet. It is absolutely essential to the well-being of humankindand a basic requirement for the healthy functioning of all the ecosystems. The right to water isindispensable for leading a life in dignity, and is a prerequisite for the realization of other human rights.The human right to water entitles everyone to sufficient, safe, acceptable and affordable water forpersonal and domestic uses.On 26 November 2002, this right was recognized by the UN Committee on Economic, Social andcultural Rights when it announced a General Comment on the Right to Water. The General Commentgives the Committee's interpretations of the implications of the new right to water. In summary, theright to water puts an obligation on governments to progressively extend access to sufficient, affordable,accessible and safe water supplies and to safe sanitation services. This was a milestone event, markingthe importance of water services in the development of individuals, communities and nations. Whilepreviously water had been implicitly a right, through the rights to health, education, and the rights ofthe child, this new General Comment explicitly focuses on the right to water, and the responsibilitiesand obligations that governments have in delivering water services to all.Water laws play an important role in determining the availability of water, and in the social, economicand institutional aspects of water governance and development since provisions for, and limitationson, the institutional arrangements affect how water is used, developed and managed.The purpose of this Report is to provide an understanding of the various Acts and Regulations relatedto drinking water and sanitation, irrigation, hydropower and water pollution in Nepal. By presenting aconsolidated summary of the various water Laws and Regulations into one unified Report, thispublication attempts to provide an informed perspective on the most important clauses, rules andrequirements of key water legislation, and is expected to act as a catalyst to further stimulate thinkingand debate to influence water rights of citizens.We would like to thank Mr. Basanta Adhikari, Pro-public for undertaking this study, Ms. Susan Sellarsfor editing the Report into the present form, Mr. Shiva Bisangkhe, Nepal Water ConservationFoundation, and to Mr Rabin Lal Shrestha, WaterAid Nepal for his coordination and support duringthe study period.Sanjaya AdhikaryCountry RepresentativeWaterAid Nepalvii