Itahari Declaration
Itahari Declaration
Itahari Declaration on Kosi High Dam and Water Resources Management July 9-10, 2005 (2062 Ashad 25-26)
1. Kosi High Dam is against necessity, priority and welfare of Nepal so the entire construction process should be stopped immediately.
2. Before any research, survey and decision on the construction of the proposed dam in Nepal , detail pros and cons of Kosi, Gandak and Mahakali treaties and public revision, reformation and amendment and settlement of all problems related to them.
3. Since Kosi is transboudary river, participation of Bangladesh , lower riparian country, should be ensured from the beginning on any water management and construction process.
4. Prior to the construction of high dam in any international river, World Commission on Dams' report and other national and international measurements and principles must be effectively followed and legal commitment should be publicized.
5. All available information and documents on Kosi High Dam must be immediately publicized in national and local languages.
6. Appropriate compensation in current market rate should be provided to victims of Kosi Project and rehabilitation must also be ensured if necessary.
7. By preparing national policy and plan on direct participation of entire people of water affected areas, flood management, water drainage, drinking water, irrigation, electricity development and distribution should be implemented. Extensive people pressure on concerned authority must be created to the implementation of entire provisions including objectives, rights and public services mentioned in the Kosi treaty.
8 . All treaties regarding distribution of utilities and benefits from either small or large transboundary rivers must be approved from the parliament based on the article 126 of the Constitution of Nepal.
9. Improvement and change in life style of Nepalese is possible only through proper and equitable mobilization of water resources. Positive initiations of development-- national capacity, investment, utilization and participation of human resources seen in last few decades on the development and management of water resources; provision of distribution of 50 percent of royalty as benefit to region , district and affected area; provision to distribute electricity by organized communities-- must be continued with priority.
10. Negative impacts on Himalaya Region due to climate change and global warming must be consider while drafting the policies and plans on water and river management.
Itahari Declaration on Kosi High Dam and Water Resources Management July 9-10, 2005 (2062 Ashad 25-26)
1. Kosi High Dam is against necessity, priority and welfare of Nepal so the entire construction process should be stopped immediately.
2. Before any research, survey and decision on the construction of the proposed dam in Nepal , detail pros and cons of Kosi, Gandak and Mahakali treaties and public revision, reformation and amendment and settlement of all problems related to them.
3. Since Kosi is transboudary river, participation of Bangladesh , lower riparian country, should be ensured from the beginning on any water management and construction process.
4. Prior to the construction of high dam in any international river, World Commission on Dams' report and other national and international measurements and principles must be effectively followed and legal commitment should be publicized.
5. All available information and documents on Kosi High Dam must be immediately publicized in national and local languages.
6. Appropriate compensation in current market rate should be provided to victims of Kosi Project and rehabilitation must also be ensured if necessary.
7. By preparing national policy and plan on direct participation of entire people of water affected areas, flood management, water drainage, drinking water, irrigation, electricity development and distribution should be implemented. Extensive people pressure on concerned authority must be created to the implementation of entire provisions including objectives, rights and public services mentioned in the Kosi treaty.
8 . All treaties regarding distribution of utilities and benefits from either small or large transboundary rivers must be approved from the parliament based on the article 126 of the Constitution of Nepal.
9. Improvement and change in life style of Nepalese is possible only through proper and equitable mobilization of water resources. Positive initiations of development-- national capacity, investment, utilization and participation of human resources seen in last few decades on the development and management of water resources; provision of distribution of 50 percent of royalty as benefit to region , district and affected area; provision to distribute electricity by organized communities-- must be continued with priority.
10. Negative impacts on Himalaya Region due to climate change and global warming must be consider while drafting the policies and plans on water and river management.
