DWIDP Concerns: Water Induced Disaster Prevention'
Background
Nepal suffers from different types of water-induced disasters such as soil erosion, landslides, debris flow, flood, bank erosion etc. due to its rugged topography, weak geological formations, active seismic conditions, occasional glacier lake outburst, floods and concentrated monsoon rains associated with unscientific land utilizations. These phenomena induce severe impacts on the vital infrastructures of the nation such as roads, hydropower, irrigation and drinking water facilities causing loss of agricultural lands, properties and human lives posing a severe threat to the sustainable development of the country. In order to mitigate these disasters in Nepal, Water Induced Disaster Prevention Technical Centre (DPTC) was established under the then Ministry of Water Resources as per an agreement between the Government of Nepal and the Government of Japan on 7th October 1991. The programs of DPTC were continued for seven and half years with the technical co-operation/assistance from Japan International Co-operation Agency (JICA). To institutionalize the objectives and achievements of the DPTC, the Department of Water Induced Disaster Prevention (DWIDP) was established on 7th February 2000 under the then Ministry of Water Resources along with seven divisions and five sub-division offices to mitigate the water-induced disasters throughout the country. The department is a focal agency for all water induced disasters mitigation works. To facilitate the activities of the water induced disaster management and mitigation in the country the activities and responsibility of the River Training Division of the Department of Irrigation has been transferred to this department in 2002.
Guidelines for addressing the issues on water induced disaster mitigations have been adopted from the Water Resources Strategy - 2002 and the National Water Plan - 2005, the governments main documents which have laid out the short term, medium term and long term strategies, plans, activities and resources for mitigation and management of water induced disasters These documents have given DWIDP the leading role to implement the mitigation and risk reduction measures and coordinate with other related agencies. Based on these strategic visions, Water Induced Disaster Management Policy - 2006 has been formulated with policy provisions: (a) to mitigate water induced disasters and reduce loss of lives and property, (b) to enhance institutional strengthening of DWIDP and (c) establish network with the associated institutions and agencies to cope with potential disasters.
Water Resources Strategy - 2002 (WRS 2002) has defined ten strategic outputs to contribute the overall national goal as "living conditions of Nepalese people are significantly improved in a sustainable manner" by achieving short term, medium term and long term purposes. "Effective measures to manage and mitigate water induced disasters are functional"- is one of those ten outputs, concerned of DWIDP.
The WRS-2002 also identified the indicators (specific targets and dates) that can be used to achieve the above strategic output related to disaster as following
