Local responses to too much and too little water in the greater Himalayan region
Table 1: General features of the Koshi Basin
Features Vegetation Crop
Fruit and
vegetables
People Industry Transport
Rice, maize, Mango, papaya, Gurung, Magar,
Rice, flour and oil
Pine forest wheat, millet banana, Tamang, Newar,
mills, cement factory, Road linkages
Middle + mixed barley, pulses, orange, lime, Bahun, Chhetri,
cottage industry to major
Mountain hardwood sugarcane, radish, lemon, peach, Damai, Sarki,
handicraft, curios, centres,
and oak potato, ginger, plum, potato, Sunar, Kumal,
hosiery, metallurgy, suspension
cardamom and tea cauliflower Rai, Limbu
furniture, plastics, bridge, trails
hotels and lodges
Oats, barley, Khas Chhetris,
Tibetan related Cottage industry, Limited
High
Fir, pine,
wheat, potatoes, Chestnut, walnut,
groups, Thakalis, carpets, blankets, roads, some
Mountain
birch and
buckwheat, apple, peach,
rhododendron
yams, amaranths, plum, apricot, Bhotiyas, hand woven cloth, suspension
medicinal herbs, potato Sherpas, trekking bridges, trails
cardamom, tea Tamangs, Ghales
High
Open Apple, walnut, Occasional
Himal
meadows +
Grazing (June-
vegetable seed, herders, Sherpas
Mountaineering and Trails, no road
tundra
September)
potato and Bhotiyas
trekking linkages
rainfall is large within short distances. The annual arrival from small business and trade, including the running of
of the monsoon rain results in the emergence of springs local teashops and general stores. Three families (5%)
at various elevations. Stable, perennial springs are reported that trade and business is their main source of
often located at the footslopes of the hills; springs at income. For 20%, service is the major source of income.
intermediate elevations start to flow a few weeks after A few families sell firewood to survive.
the monsoon begins; and springs at higher elevations
flow later during the season. Water and irrigation systems – Drinking water systems
generally tap spring sources, store the water in a tank,
Specific hazards in the study area – The inhabitants and distribute it via community tap stands. All three
of the Koshi basin face multiple hazards. In the hills, villages studied have gravity systems to supply drinking
landslides, gully erosion, and debris flows are common; water. Users’ committees manage the systems, but
while in the valleys, sediment deposition and bank institutional, technological, and social issues are resulting
cutting are common. The Terai suffers from floods, in dysfunction of the existing schemes and adding to
riverbank erosion, and sand deposition on fields. the emerging water stresses. For irrigation, farmers
Drought conditions are common in both the hills and divert streams using temporary dams as at all four sites,
Terai and affect rainfed agriculture. agriculture is mostly rainfed.
Current livelihoods – All the respondents interviewed
have multiple sources of income: 83% have agriculture
Impact of Water Stresses and Hazards
as a source of income (49% say it is the primary source).
Worsening water availability in the hills and mountains
Farmers produce cereals, vegetables, and fruit. Livestock
has affected local livelihoods and daily life in the
are an important source of income for 74% of the
villages in many ways.
surveyed households and a secondary or tertiary source
of income for the remainder.
Water for domestic and irrigation uses – Both upland
and lowland villages suffer from inadequate water for
There were a significant number of wage earners –
domestic use and irrigation. As discharge in upland
about 20% earn their income within the district, 4-5%
sources declines, villagers require more time to fill
outside the district, and 21% outside of Nepal. About
their water vessels or must travel to sources at lower
14% of respondents have teaching as a major source
elevations to meet their needs. It can take 30 minutes
of income, 11% rely on business or other secondary
to reach the source and about an hour to return, and
sources, and 3% are students or engaged in industry.
several trips per day may be required. Consequently,
Some rely in part on a pension, about 10% from the
they use more time and labour getting water, and pay
British or Indian armies, and 5% from the Government
with their health because the water quality of some
of Nepal. About 47% of the households earn income
lower sources is worse. Children have to miss school
Woman and girl in the dry Jikhu Khola riverbed, Panchkal, Nepal. Securing water for
agriculture and household use is an increasing challenge, especially for women
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