Water crisis of Nepal

 

Let's leave the world at bay for now (though we shouldn't). Let's talk about our own country, Nepal, and the ecological crisis it is facing now and its eventual result.

Nepal, though successful in preserving forests, which cover 41.9% of Nepal's total land, will face a huge water crisis in the coming decade in cities.

What? Why? When?

What: Though it's true Nepal has "just preserved" forests quite well (even at the cost of its people's poverty and life), it has achieved this in such a way that it doesn't even make sense. Preserving any resource for future generations is not meant for just some sightseeing or eye candy but for them to be able to utilize that resource and develop on a greater scale. Cutting trees and picking herbs is not deforestation, but doing so indiscriminately without any consideration for the future is. Nepal has billions of dollars' worth of natural resources, which, if utilized properly, will make its people prosper. The forest preservation law not only stops Nepali people from utilizing their forests but also stops the government itself from the development process, as they don't have well-thought-out laws defining what destruction is and what preservation is. Anyway, let's not divert too much from the main topic. Like I said, major cities like Kathmandu, Butwal, Nepalgunj, Dhangadhi, and many more will face a major water crisis in the coming decade. In Dhangadhi, just 15 years ago, water used to be found at 20 ft, but now, after 15 years, it's hard to find underground water even at 60 ft, indicating a lowering water level. Similarly, Kathmandu is also facing a water problem, and it's not due to overpopulation (the water problem faced by Kathmandu for a long time was not due to ecological reasons but due to overpopulation) but due to the drying of water sources.

Why: The reason why water resources are drying and shifting is due to over-construction. Water scarcity is impossible if its cycle is not messed with, but people are doing that nowadays through over-construction. Buildings, because they are created with cement and bricks, and roads, which are mostly coated with gravel and plastic, hinder water from seeping into the earth to fill up water resources. Due to these roads, which are constructed without much thought, water stays out, gets vaporized, returns to the clouds, and moves toward other locations where it rains. If it reaches soil, it seeps into the earth, thus reducing the city's underground water reserves and creating drought. So, it's high time the government thought of their development plans and executed them in a way that allows most of the rainwater to reach where it's supposed to, preventing natural disasters.

When: It can't be said with precision, but according to scientists, it's not too far off. Somewhere around a decade or two, it will become a major problem, causing large-scale migration toward areas where water is available. People will start settling in mostly forested areas, causing deforestation, followed by construction, and the same cycle will repeat, leading to the same consequences if not properly addressed and recognized.Source:1. Bhumika Thapa, Chiranjibi Bhattarai, Ngamindra Dahal, Sushma Tiwari, Dean Jacobsen "Drying of Springs in the Himalayan Region of Nepal: Perspectives of Local Government Leaders on Causes, Consequences, and Conservation Efforts," Mountain Research and Development, 43(4), R9-R15, (28 December 2023) 2. Raju Chauhan, Archana Shrestha, Sang Eun Oh, Anup Gurung; The degradation of spring water resources in Nepal: some policy gaps. Water Policy 1 April 2023; 25 (4): 338–358. doi: https://doi.org/10.2166/wp.2023.159 3. Thapa, Ram & Baniya, Chitra & Pokhrel, Gunanidhi & Tiwari, Krishna & Bista, Nayan. (2023). The Implication of Hydrogeological Mapping and Recharge Structures to Revive Drying Springs in Hilly Region of Nepal. International Journal of Science and Research (IJSR). 12. 2026-2032. 10.21275/SR23522075701. 4. https://www.witpress.com/.../papers/EID14/EID14027FU1.pdf... 5. José Roberto Ávila-Carrasco, Mario Alberto Hernández-Hernández, Graciela S. Herrera, Guillermo De Jesús Hernández-García; Urbanization effects on the groundwater potential recharge of the aquifers in the southern part of the Basin of Mexico. Hydrology Research 1 May 2023; 54 (5): 663–685. doi: https://doi.org/10.2166/nh.2023.103 6.Foster, Stephen. (1990). Impacts of urbanisation on groundwater. Hydrological Sciences Journal/Journal des Sciences Hydrologiques. 198. 187-207. 7. Pasquier, U., Vahmani, P., & Jones, A. D. (2022). Quantifying the City-Scale Impacts of Impervious Surfaces on Groundwater Recharge Potential: An Urban Application of WRF–Hydro. Water, 14(19), 3143. https://doi.org/10.3390/w14193143 8. Sharp, John M., "The impacts of urbanization on groundwater systems and recharge" (2010). KIP Articles. 2719. https://digitalcommons.usf.edu/kip_articles/2719