1. Background
•
• These phenomena induce severe impacts on the vital infrastructures of the nation such as roads, houses, hydropower, irrigation and drinking water facilities, cause 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, the then Water induced Disaster Prevention Technical Centre (DPTC) was established under the Ministry of Water Resources under an agreement between the Government of Nepal and the Government of Japan on 7 October 1991.
• The DPTC was continued for seven and half years under the participation of the concerned agencies of the Government and the co-operation of Japan International Cooperation Agency. (JICA)
• To institutionalize the objectives and achievements of the DPTC, the Department of Water Induced Disaster Prevention (DWIDP) was established on 7 February 2000 under the Ministry of Water Resources.
• The then River Training Division of the Department of Irrigation was merged in the organizational structure of the DWIDP to strengthen its institutional capability. Seven division and five sub-division offices were established so as to mitigate the water-induces disasters throughout the kingdom.
2. Goal of the DWIDP
To contribute in achieving the national goal of poverty alleviation through minimizing human casualties and damages of infrastructures due to water induced disasters by the appropriate management and conservation of rivers and river basins of
3. Objective of the DWIDP
To implement the programmers of river and river basing conservation and to develop related appropriate technology, research, information systems, human resource and institutional development activities and to raise awareness of communities so as to mitigate water-induced disasters.
4. Strategies
• To formulate and implement water-induced disaster management policy and plans.
• To prepare hazard maps and risk zoning.
• To strengthen the network for disaster mitigation and to establish disaster information systems.
• To conduct community awareness programmers and trainings on water-induced disaster management.
• To activate Indo-Nepal Inundation committee (s)
• To prepare and implement Flood Plain Action Plan.
• To implement disaster mitigation measures.
• To strengthen the institutional development, human resource development and capacity building.
• To identity environment-friendly water-induced disaster mitigation measures and construction methodology.
• To institutionalize and strengthen water-induced disaster rehabilitation system.
• To develop disaster information system and disseminate the disaster information.
• To perform the capability building of the Government and community for water-induced disaster mitigation works.
5. Main Activities of the DWIDP
• Technology Development Work
The main activity under this work is to develop the environment friendly technology by the amalgamation of local and modern technology. Various technologies are proposed and compared in the selected sites through model construction works so as to identify the appropriate technology suitable to a specific site. The experience thus gained in the model sites are disseminated through technical guidelines and providing suggestions to ongoing projects.
• Training, Study and Information Work
Training is conducted to develop the knowledge and skills of the technical staffs of Government offices and related agencies associated with water-induced disaster mitigation works. A data bank is established by collecting information related to water-induced disasters and this information is disseminated through various publications. Besides these, various studies on water-induced disasters are performed. Community awareness programmers are conducted through seminars and workshops.
• Water-induced Disaster Mitigation Work
Emergence works, point control works and long-term mitigation works through the preparation of master plans are implemented against the water-induced disasters such as floods. Landslides & debris flows under this activity.
6. Different Programs and Projects Implemented under the DWIDP
a. Disaster Mitigation Support Program Project (DMSP)
This project was implemented in September 1999, under the agreement of the Government of Nepal and the Government of Japan to contribute in promoting the capacity of the Government and communities for the mitigation of water-induced disasters. The project has completed its tenure of five years in 2004 August and now its follow-up program is being launched for the next two years till 2006 August.
The main activities of this project implemented under the co-operation of Japan International Co-operation Agency (JICA) are as follows:
• Community disaster mitigation works
• Disaster rehabilitation works
• Information system development and dissemination works
• Disaster mitigation awareness works
b. River Training Project
The main activities of this central level project under the DWIDP are as follows:
• To supply gabion boxes and other river training materials for emergency works all over the country.
• To study rivers for disaster mitigation and management.
• To activate the Standing Committee on Inundation Problems (SCIP) for the mitigation of the disasters of Indo-Nepal border rivers.
c. Mugling-Narayanghat Water Induced Disaster Prevention Project
This project was started in the Fiscal Year 2061/62 to mitigate the water-induced disaster like landslide and debris flow damages along
d.
The seventh meeting of SCIP formulated Bagmati river training project for the construction of embankments at
e.
Lal Bakaiya River Training Project has been formulated for the training work of Lal Bakaiya River in Rautahat district with the total project cost of NRs. 61.4 million among which NRs. 45.8 million is the contribution from the Government of India and NRs. 15.6 million from Government of Nepal.
f. Sindhuli-Bardiubas Water Induced Disaster Prevention Project
This Project was started under the WIDP Division Office No.2, Janakpur in the Fiscal Year 2062/63 to project Sindhuli-Bardibas road from water-induced disasters like landslides and debris flows. The estimated cost of the project is Rs. 16 crore and will commence till the Fiscal year 2064/65.
7. Proposed Major Programs
The tenth Plan (2002-2007 A.D.) mentions the major programs of the DWIDP as follows:
• To formulate policy, rule, regulation and guidelines for the institutionalization of water-induced disaster management as a regular program.
• To delineate water-induced disaster areas and prepare water induced hazard maps.
• To develop and disseminate appropriated technology through model construction works.
• To provide information regarding the probable disasters due to floods and landslides through the establishment of forecasting systems and to promote public awareness.
• To co-ordinate among the agencies related with water-induced disaster management.
• To activate bi-lateral committees related with the inundation problems of indo-Nepal borders.
• To implement work plan for the management of flood plains.
• To implement the projects for water-induced disaster mitigation.
8. Manpower of the DWIDP
| S.No. | Description | Department | Division | Sub-division | Total | |
| | | Pool | Regular | | | |
| 1 | Gazetted I (Tech) | | 3 | - | - | 3 |
| 2 | Gazetted II (Tech) | | 7 | 7 | - | 14 |
| 3 | Gazetted III (Tech) | 2 | 19 | 22 | 5 | 49 |
| 4 | Gazette III | | 3 | - | - | 3 |
| 5 | Non-Gazetted I (Tech) | 8 | 15 | 44 | 10 | 77 |
| 6 | Non-Gazetted I | | 6 | 14 | - | 20 |
| 7 | Non-Gazetted II (Tech) | | - | 2 | - | 2 |
| 8 | Non-Gazetted II | | 2 | 8 | 10 | 20 |
| 9 | Non-classified | | 5 | 30 | 10 | 45 |
| | Total | 10 | 60 | 127 | 35 | 232 |
9. Physical facilities of the DWIDP
1. Central office at Pulchowk
2. Hydraulic Laboratory at Godawari
• River simulation model facility
• Debris flow simulation model facility
• Landslide simulation model facility
• Soil testing facility
• Concrete testing facility
3. Heavy equipment garage at Baneshwor
4. Seven division offices and five sub- division offices
5. Gabion weaving machines in Biratnagar, Parwanipur, Pokhara, Nepalgunj and Dhangadhi.
